mercury filling replacement and breastfeeding

[peaceful_mama]

(x-posted in breastfeeding)

I went for a dental checkup today (first in about 18 months, got dental insurance again)

I have a cavity in a tooth with a mercury filling. I went ahead and took an appt. to have it removed, cavity fixed, tooth re-filled with composite (tooth colored filling.)

My dentist says I have nothing to worry about with nursing DS.

I know there is a whole protocol to having mercury fillings removed and replaced. To my knowledge, nobody in this area does it. (Sioux Falls, SD)

I figure though at this point, there is likely more harm to leaving it as-is (filling with decay near it) than to having it removed and replaced.

What does anyone know about this? I will be back on tonight looking for responses.

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by peaceful_mama

(x-posted in breastfeeding)

I went for a dental checkup today (first in about 18 months, got dental insurance again)

I have a cavity in a tooth with a mercury filling. I went ahead and took an appt. to have it removed, cavity fixed, tooth re-filled with composite (tooth colored filling.)

My dentist says I have nothing to worry about with nursing DS.

I know there is a whole protocol to having mercury fillings removed and replaced. To my knowledge, nobody in this area does it. (Sioux Falls, SD)

I figure though at this point, there is likely more harm to leaving it as-is (filling with decay near it) than to having it removed and replaced.

What does anyone know about this? I will be back on tonight looking for responses.

This is not true I'm afriad. First of all if your dentist does not follow the strict protocols for removing mercury amalgams, you are putting yourself in hrams way. Removing mercury amalgams releases a great deal of mercury vapor, which is why the protocols need to be in place in the first place...for your safety and the dentist. I would never have this done while breastfeeding either. Even when the protocols are followed, you are exposed to an increased amount of mercury vapor...I would be concerned about this via BM.
http://www.iaomt.org/

I would travel to get this done by the right kind of dentist. JMHO. I have had all mine removed the proper way and was lucky enough to have a holistic dentist 200 yards from my job.

This dentist removes them properly...not sure if you could travel to Rapid City?? seems like it would be a 3-4 hr drive. Totally worth it IMO. Good Luck!
http://www.dakotasmiles.com/

[Ruthla]

I'm going on the assumption here that you can't afford an "out of network" dentist- otherwise, you likely would have gotten dental work done even without dental insurance. It may not matter whether or not there's a "holistic dentist" nearby- if you can't afford to go to then, then it's a moot point.

In your position, I'd probably go ahead and have the work done. I wouldn't go and have "problem free" amalgam fillings replaced- those can wait. But there's a definite risk of mercury exposure with just leaving the fillings in there, and there's probably an even risk of mercury exposure with a "broken" filling- with more of the filling surface exposed due the the adjacent cavity.

I do suggest researching ways to detox from the mercury after the dental work is done, and also to see how long the mercury stays in your bloodstream after the work is done. If I'm reading your sig correctly, your nursling is about 18mo? If it will minimize his exposure to pump and dump for a day or so, he's old enough to not need formula during that time. But I'm not sure how many hours of "not breastfeeding" would make a difference- if it's more than a day or so, it may not be worth discontinuing breastfeeding at all. But it is another angle to research.

[peaceful_mama]

nope nursling is 7 months. What will likely happen is I'll be gone for about 90 minutes and he will want to nurse down for his nap when we get home.

I'm with you Ruthla in that I think the "broken" amalgam would do more harm in long-term exposure. I seem to remember reading that somewhere. (At one point, I contemplated having them removed, only to find out--at least at that time--there was no one here doing appropriate protocols, so I did not attempt to find out how much it would cost. Moot point.)

also I just called a friend who (ironically) told me a couple weeks ago she had the same thing---to see what she had decided to do and if she'd had hers done yet. She had basically come to the same conclusion (that a "broken" filling is more harmful long-term)

Also she pointed out that a filling with decay around it could fall out. Could possibly even be swallowed.

both of us think we're better off with the exposure associated with removal versus the possibility of swallowing mercury.

that said. I would like to at least have my dentist humor me and use the rubber dam and lots of cold water while he's doing this. Even if he thinks it's totally unnecessary and I am some sort of paranoid freak or something. (I am, of course, assuming all offices have these "dams" in stock or whatever)

btw Rapid City is 6 hours from me. Just got back from there last week. (funeral, drove mom) (well, 6 hours counting stops to pee, nurse baby, etc etc etc.)

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by peaceful_mama

nope nursling is 7 months. What will likely happen is I'll be gone for about 90 minutes and he will want to nurse down for his nap when we get home.

I'm with you Ruthla in that I think the "broken" amalgam would do more harm in long-term exposure. I seem to remember reading that somewhere. (At one point, I contemplated having them removed, only to find out--at least at that time--there was no one here doing appropriate protocols, so I did not attempt to find out how much it would cost. Moot point.)

also I just called a friend who (ironically) told me a couple weeks ago she had the same thing---to see what she had decided to do and if she'd had hers done yet. She had basically come to the same conclusion (that a "broken" filling is more harmful long-term)

Also she pointed out that a filling with decay around it could fall out. Could possibly even be swallowed.

both of us think we're better off with the exposure associated with removal versus the possibility of swallowing mercury.

that said. I would like to at least have my dentist humor me and use the rubber dam and lots of cold water while he's doing this. Even if he thinks it's totally unnecessary and I am some sort of paranoid freak or something. (I am, of course, assuming all offices have these "dams" in stock or whatever)

btw Rapid City is 6 hours from me. Just got back from there last week. (funeral, drove mom) (well, 6 hours counting stops to pee, nurse baby, etc etc etc.)

Good luck with the removals! Just wanted to add you should not detox after if you are breastfeeding.

[tanyalynn]

I'm not clear on the broken amalgam issue. I don't believe the outside of an amalgam filling is any different than the inside, and I don't understand why having decay near an amalgam filling is different than decay anywhere else, except for the complications of treating it.

At a minimum, I'd call all the local dentists that are covered by your insurance to see what type of protections they use. Holistic dentists are not necessarily more expensive than conventional ones, and some conventional dentists are still quite careful with mercury exposure for themselves and their patients. Even with safe removal procedures, I got extra mercury exposure when I got my amalgams removed, so checking for protective measures from local dentists seems prudent.

[peaceful_mama]

The thing I had heard is that the 'broken' amalgam filling can leak mercury into your system more than just having them there, whole. Probably because more surface mercury with the "broken" one????

The decision I came to was, it is ONE filling, not my whole mouth. It's decayed, 'broken' not elective.

In all reality, most babies have probably been exposed to more mercury via shots than he is likely to get via nursing.

And it was discovered at a routine check which included X-rays. Any new dentist would want another set, which insurance would not cover. Plus, there's the radiation, though low, from X-rays. Ever since my friend (a dental asst.) told me that radiation from the X ray NEVER leaves where it goes, well, I don't get unnecessary X-rays!

And there's the fact that according to most websites I've found the closest appropriate dentist to me is 6 hours away. With my insurance being in another state that is 30 miles the OPPOSITE way, they likely don't even take my insurance since they'd have *nobody* showing up with it that far away.

What I am going to do is take what I know and look for a new dentist so that if I run into this problem again, I'm already with someone who will handle it the way I want. There's a chance there's people here taking precautions, even if they're not on a "Licensed Provider" list.

how would you ask them??

[almadianna]

I just had this done last week for a broken one. I am nursing a 10 mo. old and had to do it. I was not willing to lose a tooth and get more mercury in my system. It wasnt my first choice but sometimes you have to do things that are not really what you would prefer for the greater good.

[titania8]

im facing this too, but i have several fillings that need to be replaced. i've put it off for nearly a year, and its gotten to the point where its affecting my eating. i have pain from room temp water. but im still scared. just hearing my dentist speak the words "dental dam" nearly sent me over the edge. i have some lingering dental anxiety from childhood. im seriously not sure i could sit there and go through it. my heart is racing just typing this!!

thanks for the link to iaomt. i just sent an email to a dentist near-ish me. let's hope for the best--that he can help me and my insurance will cover it!!