Help, amalgam filling being removed tomorrow!

[slsurface]

I have about a 1/2dozen amalgam fillings in my mouth that I got before I knew better. It turns out that one of my fillings is bad and needs to be drilled out and replaced. This procedure is scheduled for tomorrow. My dentist says there is no risk, but I am very concerned about this because I am currently breastfeeding my 1month DS2. I don't think he uses any special precautions when removing amalgam fillings. My questions are:

How much mercury could I inhale/ingest from a small filling removal?
Could this mercury pass to DS2 through my breastmilk?
What precautions can I take to minimize mercury exposure to DS2?

My DS1 has sensory issues and developmental delays, so I don't want to risk similar problems to DS2. TIA!

[freestylemama]

I went through the same thing when I was nursing. I came to the conclusion that I was already ingesting the mercury since it was cracked so it was best to remove it. I insisted that they keep the vacuum going the entire time and use this weird mouth/throat guard plastic thing. My kiddo is older and fine now, fwiw.

If you're really concerned about exposure, you could pump and dump for a while after. You can also eat cilantro and take milk thistle before and after the dental work.

good luck!

[mbravebird]

There are other mamas on here who know more than me, but I will just say that the fact that the dentist says there is no risk is a BIG red flag, and means he is not informed. I would cancel the appointment immediately, and do more research. Certainly, even if you decide to get them removed, you would need to go with a different dentist, one who is educated in the protection procedures for amalgam removal.

There's a mama on here who saw her baby suffer major setbacks after having her amalgams removed -- and she even did it with all the protections in place.

And if you do it, you need to have your detox support stuff on hand immediately, for yourself and for your baby. It's something you would need to start right away.

Like I said, I'd cancel the appointment and do more research. Waiting a bit is not going to harm your tooth, whereas doing it could cause great harm immediately, especially if done wrong.

[mbravebird]

Just saw that you posted this yesterday, so likely already had the appointment. I'd add to your list of things to help protect you and the baby:
Modifilan
Bentonite clay (Pascalite is a good brand)

Let us know how it went!

[slsurface]

I cancelled the appointment so I had time to do more research. So please, give me any info and links you've got!

I only learned of the potential risks of amalgam a year ago. Unfortunately, I had a filling remove when DS1 was a week old. The dentist took no precautions and I now suspect that mercury poisoning may be why DS1 has sensory processing and behavioral problems. I've got to figure out how to get this tooth fixed without endangering DS2. The problem is, I don't think there are any dentist who know how to do this properly in my area.

[Luvmykiddos03]

I'm glad you canceled your appointment. I would search for a holistic/biological dentist in your area. The following website would be a good place to start your research:

http://www.iaomt.org/

Once you find a holistic/biological dentist, I would schedule an appointment with him/her and let them speak more in depth with you about your SPECIFIC situation.

[mbravebird]

You might have to drive for the right dentist -- but I bet it would be worth it.

My first question is: are you *sure* the filling needs to be removed and replaced? What is unstable about it? What is the risk of not doing it? And you might get a very different answer from a mercury-knowledgeable dentist than you did from your conventional one.

Also, I know there are mamas on here who have detoxed while nursing successfully, as an alternative to removing their fillings. I know Modifilan and Pascalite are some of their tools, but I think that is just the edge of the story. Maybe cross-post this question in the allergy section, where a lot of them hang out? I think Panserbjorne has done detox while nursing.

ETA: do some searches in the "finding your tribe" section for recommendations for dentists in your area.

[carolinagirl1]

I would agree with making sure that the filling needs to be replaced and cannot wait until the baby is born. If it does, PLEASE make sure that the dentist uses a rubber dam. It is a device that prevents the products of the dental work mixing with your saliva. Some dentists use it because it is important to keep the tooth dry while it is being restored. If the dentist will not place the rubber dam, then I would refuse the dental work and find one who will. If you mention that you are concerned about the mercury while you are pregnant, then the dentist should respect that. Absolutely!