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Metal fillings replaced while breastfeeding?

post #1 of 157
1/25/05 at 9:26pm
Thread Starter 
I need to have all the metal fillings in my mouth, six total, replaced. Only a few of those are in immediate need, and I am not in any pain. My DD is 2, and very sensitive to food and has excema. I can put the dentist off for a while, I cancelled my appt. this morning because I just thought of the danger
of mercury toxicity. I can wait until I am in pain. Or, I can try to minimize the exposure, using a dental dam, maybe do some detox stuff after the procedure? Any ideas, thoughts or experiences would be appreciated.
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post #2 of 157
1/27/05 at 3:53pm
What does your dentist say? If he feels that waiting won't make your situation worse then by all means put it off.
post #3 of 157
1/27/05 at 4:53pm
When my oldest who is now 5 was 8 months old, I had a filling put in. I have a mouthful of fillings, all mercury, so that alone is amazing that nothing has happened to my babes-in-utero. That said, this time the dentist offered to do white filling (forget what they are called officially) and did, and within a dya I was keeling over in such severe pains I wanted to die. I was breastfeeding exclusively at that stage as well, so I was worried.

Turns out (he never asked prior) I am allergic to anything NOT gold (silver, fake etc.....) and that was one in the same for the stuff that while filling was made of. I quickly, within a week, went back to have that one removed and replaced with amalgam. I was fine soon after.

The baby nursing had no effects. And I checked with dentist and there were no issues relating to breastfeeding that would hurt baby either.

Good luck.
post #4 of 157
1/28/05 at 2:42am
It is my understanding that most dentists will tell you there is no problem with an amalgam filling. It is also my understanding that this is incorrect, and that the mercury in the amalgam fillings can be leaching into your system right now and therefore into your baby through breastmilk. It is also my understanding that it is downright dangerous to have your amalgam fillings messed with while your are pregnant or breastfeeding.

I'd sure like to get mine redone and filled with resin, but I must wait until DD weans, and I may be pregnant by then.
post #5 of 157
1/28/05 at 11:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pilgrim
It is my understanding that most dentists will tell you there is no problem with an amalgam filling. It is also my understanding that this is incorrect, and that the mercury in the amalgam fillings can be leaching into your system right now and therefore into your baby through breastmilk. It is also my understanding that it is downright dangerous to have your amalgam fillings messed with while your are pregnant or breastfeeding.

I'd sure like to get mine redone and filled with resin, but I must wait until DD weans, and I may be pregnant by then.
Ditto, ditto, ditto and ditto.

This topic makes me personally sick as I was talked out of white composite fillings by a dentist several years ago ("Oh, I use silver fillings on all my family, it's perfectly safe, inert, etc. etc.") and have a mouth full of mercury amalgam.

Sorry for venting, it just makes my stomach turn b/c I cannot do anything about it, YKWIM?
post #6 of 157
2/13/05 at 8:28pm
Read this site:
http://www.amalgam.org/

Found a great holistic dentist here:
http://www.holisticdental.org/
They are quite a bit of a drive from me, but hopefully will be worth it.

Not sure if I will have fillings removed or not, will see at my first appt.
http://grotondentalwellness.com/amalgamremoval.htm
post #7 of 157
2/13/05 at 9:17pm
It's bull*hit that MERCURY (read-poison) fillings are 'safe'. Maybe safe compared to swimming 5 miles out into the ocean with a huge bleeding wound.

I have had mercury fillings in my mouth since maybe age 10, so for about 23 years now and for the past 2 years I have had progressive memory loss, irritibility, and a horrific metal taste. Guess what? Mercury poisoning. It makes me SICK that I have birthed 3 babies and nursed them for years with this crap in my mouth, but I guess formula is so much worse it's still much better to nurse. Anyway, I have a GREAT site, by dentists, about how unsafe this stuff is and how pregnant women should NOT go to a dentist to get cleaned as during the cleaning they release mercury into their system, and this isn't some fanatical, off the wall person with one opinion, this is a toxicology GROUP site with all evidence-based research:

http://www.iaomt.org/

watch the video showing mercury being released into the air from a pulled tooth-sickening! Coffee, cold stuff, dental cleaning, age......
post #8 of 157
2/21/05 at 10:04pm
Hmmm. I just went to my holistic dentist today, and discussed replacing my amalgam fillings. I'm still nursing my two-year-old. The dentist said that the amount of mercury my son would be exposed to as a result of the procedure is negligible compared to what he is getting every day from the mercury already in my mouth and what he got while I was pregnant. I also have one filling missing - ? - so I evidently ingested it

I'm torn because I think I'm showing signs of mercury toxicity: memory loss, numbess in hands/feet, weakness, among several other things. I'm a strong believer that toxic metals contribute to degenerative neurological disorders such as Alzheimers, Parkinsons, multiple sclerosis, etc. Considering the signs I'm showing, I'd like to get this done before getting pregnant again b/c it would be another three or four years before I could have it done. I know I'm only 36 and most folks would say that I have plenty of time. But, my husband was diagnosed with cancer last year, so I know firsthand that these 'diseases' that used to strike when we're older now are taking their toll much younger, partly due to environmental toxins.

So, I guess my decision hinges upon how much mercury I think my son is getting from my fillings vs his exposure if I have them replaced :

Maybe I should wean him
post #9 of 157
2/21/05 at 11:10pm
Maria, you sound so distressed! I'm so sorry you are going through this.

If I were you I'd try to find anther dentist that goes by a mercury removal protocol. From what I've read *a great deal* of mercury is released when removed. Check out some of the links I posted above.

The interesting thing about mercury toxicity is that not only do you have to be exposed but your body has to be of the type to store it rather than excrete it... genetics has something to do with it too. Perhaps you could look into nutritional help in excreting minerals. I would run to the nearest Naturopath for help. I'm sure homeopathy would be protective too.

Good luck and please let us know how you do.. I'll be thinking of you and your beautiful son...
post #10 of 157
2/22/05 at 5:45pm
Thread Starter 
What does your holistic dentist want you to do? I have several metal fillings, and my regular (not holistic) dentist wants to replace them. However, my
ND says he doesn't detect any mercury in my body, and wait until I am done breastfeeding. I have heard first hand stories of people getting all the metal replaced, and then not feeling good for a while. This topic makes my brain hurt thinking about it, there are so many opinions.
post #11 of 157
2/24/05 at 11:57pm

mercury fillings- to replace or not to replace? or should we slowly let it chip away

WHAT??? I am breastfeeding and have a no way out situation!I just watched the above mentioned video. I am Horrified. I never knew any of this. The last time I was to the dentist 6 mos. ago. She wanted to replece a mercury filling I have that is slowly chipping away! She knew I was breastfeeding and never said a word to me about the dangers! Not a word about the dangers of replacement or the dangers of it slowly chipping away being ingested by me, and sunsequently entering my breastmilk! I am shocked, afaraid and angry. Now what do I do? And come to think of it, I have severe memory loss. I had attributed it to an antidepressant I had been taking. But I stopped taking it when I became pregnant almost two years ago. The memory problem is worse than ever! I can't even think straight right now. I have to calm down get off this computer and go be with my baby. I will figure out what to do in the morning. Hey, another 8 hours of mercury poisoning can't hurt can it! . One thing is for sure! Both my boys and I are going in for blood tests tom.
post #12 of 157
2/27/05 at 3:42pm

Oh mama, this dentist really is obviously deficient in their knowledge. You have a right to be angry, this is a horrible thing to be facing and they should be completely ashamed of themselves.

Personally I feel it's grounds for malpractice, but the ideas are so entrenched in the profession... this information is not so widely available as it should be to every dentist (nor do they look for it)... and the ADA doesn't admit and probably will never admit they have been wrong. It baffles me as to why the blinders on this issue continues.

Check out the removal protocol, the IAOMT site has a way to find biological dentists that follow this.... I would trust their advice re: removal or leaving the filling better than a regular dentist who does not employ the protocol.

Also one other thing you can do is stop eating specific kinds of fish. Here is a good link about that:
http://www.ewg.org/reports/BrainFood/pr.html

Genetically or biologically (my sense it is probably related to health of digestive system rather than genetics), some people are better at excreting mercury... so a naturopath and/or homeopath might be able to help you and your boys with that as well.
post #13 of 157
4/5/05 at 5:27pm
Does anyone have info on how long the mercury stays in your system/is released in breastmilk, after you remove amalgam fillings? I've been waiting about 2 1/2 years to get 3 cracked amalgam fillings replaced, and since my 20 month old is not weaned, I'm thinking I'll have to do this while she's still breastfeeding. I was hoping to maybe pump and dump.
post #14 of 157
4/5/05 at 6:09pm
Thread Starter 
I just got two replaced about two weeks ago. The dentist took all precautions. Two suctions, dental dam, oxygen on my nose, and special tube ventilator things. My dd is fine, and my dd is very sensitive. Actually, her exzema cleared up quite a bit. I took vitamin c, didn't take chlorella...as not to dump more toxins in to my BM. Dumping and pumping wasn't/isn't an option as dd is 2 1/2 and won't take no for an answer. In my situation, I think the leaking metal fillings were doing more harm in my mouth. I still have 4 more to go, and not sure how fast/ how slow I am going to go. Good luck with your decision.
post #15 of 157
4/5/05 at 8:16pm
Been meaning to post this article to this thread:
"Our Preferred Poison: A little mercury is all that humans need to do away with themselves quietly, slowly, and surely" - Discover Magazine
http://www.discover.com/issues/mar-0...ferred-poison/

Circlemama, I'm considering this. Did you have a blood test done before and after to check your levels?
post #16 of 157
4/5/05 at 8:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mommytolittlelilly
Does anyone have info on how long the mercury stays in your system/is released in breastmilk, after you remove amalgam fillings? I've been waiting about 2 1/2 years to get 3 cracked amalgam fillings replaced, and since my 20 month old is not weaned, I'm thinking I'll have to do this while she's still breastfeeding. I was hoping to maybe pump and dump.
See safe removal protocol here. Also, search for a Dentist who uses it at this website too:
http://www.iaomt.org//articledetails.cfm?artid=186
post #17 of 157
4/6/05 at 10:34pm
Circlemama,

Why vit C over chlorella?

I had a consultation with a holistic dentist (at www.nihadc.com). He told me that I should wait a month or so after amalgam removal/heavy metal detox to try to conceive again. However, he said that detox should take a minimum of three months and ideally six months. Then, allow a month for any heavy metals left that were "moved around" during detox to settle back into my tissues before trying to get pregnant again.

My understanding is that mercury is absorbed by body tissue within 48 hours of hitting the bloodstream. So blood work may not show mercury unless it's done right after the removal...
post #18 of 157
4/7/05 at 1:41pm
Thanks for the info, JaneS and Circlemama.
post #19 of 157
4/7/05 at 3:38pm
Thread Starter 
No, I didn't get blood tests. I do see a ND, who did test me in other manners.
I've never tested high for mercury, neither have my kids. However, we all test high for aluminum, I can't blame that one on my fillings. My ND set my protocol for vit. c and not chlorella. I think every situation is different, and from my research, some people deal w/ heavy metals better than others. It's another one of those darn risks we have to take in life. My fillings are 15-20 years old, and I could be risking more by leaving them in than replacing them.
This is a tough debate, and I realize many may feel different. There isn't a perfect solution, well, perfect teeth...but that's not realistic in my case!
post #20 of 157
4/10/05 at 8:25pm
I'm starting removal this Friday...wish me luck!!
It wasn't as expensive as I had thought....for composite fillings that is, porcelain is 4x as much. Dental insurance will cover some.

Will have DS's hair tested at the naturopath's... little worried about that.
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