Mercury filling removal while pg/nursing - is it safe?

[Pam_and_Abigail]

I had my first dentist checkup in six years yesterday, and we discussed the cavities I had them look at last year during an emergency visit (not a checkup - I thought the tooth was getting abcessed).
I made an appt to get them filled in February. My mw had said it was a good idea to get them treated, as having that bacteria floating around my body isn't good for the baby.

But after I left the dentist, I remembered what they said about the cavities last year - two of them are underneath existing fillings, so they will essentially have to drill out the old mercury filling before replacing it with resin. Is this safe to do while pregnant? I'll probably nurse for a few years, so it could be a long time before this gets treated.

Also, they weren't especially helpful about getting non-BPA resin, they're going to find out if the product they use contains BPA, but they didn't seem to bite when I mentioned ordering in a different product. Anyone have any experience with requesting certain filling materials?

TIA

[prairiechild]

I would not do it unless it was a matter of life and death.

[tanyalynn]

Higher levels of mercury will circulate in your body after the amalgam fillings are taken out--I wouldn't do it while nursing unless it was urgent.

The IAOMT website has a lot of information on amalgam fillings. Lots of reading.

Since your dentist doesn't seem that open to your concerns, I'd consider finding another--I'd look for a holistic dentist. I think there are websites with local dentists, but I don't have any links. Holistic dentists will be really careful about removing fillings--this really does matter, there's a lot they can do to minimize the amount of mercury you ingest (but I still wouldn't have it done, even by a holistic dentist, while nursing).

[neveryoumindthere]

what about while pregnant? Is that just as bad/worse?
I was weaning my dd because I wanted to get my filling fixed (the cavity is where my previous filling cracked/came off) but now just found out i'm pregnant

[tanyalynn]

what about while pregnant? Is that just as bad/worse?

My (unresearched) vote is worse. There's so much happening so quickly, and I think it's more likely that damage done in pregnancy (esp early pregnancy) can't be recovered from. But that's just my gut talking, I have no idea if there's any really good data out there comparing the two.