Need amalgam filling replaced but don't want to give up bf - help!

[MumOfEmily]

Hi ladies,

I went to the dentist yesterday and was disappointed to hear that I need my amalgam filling replaced due to secondary caries. I told the dentist I was still bf and he said I could wait a few months but not much beyond this.

However, I don't really want to risk having this done whilst still bf. I understand that the risk of an adverse effect to my DD is very low but would rather not take the chance. Trouble is, I was hoping to let DD self wean which could take much more than a few months. AND, if possible, conceive a second child at some point, possibly whilst still bf, so obviously pregnancy would then be a problem with regard to dental work.

Really wish I'd never had the amalgam filling put in now but not much I can do at this stage. Also going to need another filling (only my second) - grr, maybe pregnancy has been bad for my teeth! :(

Help - has anyone else been through this and what did you decide to do?

I was in same situation. I went ahead and had it done. Still BFing, no problems. Pregnancy is bad for your teeth. I've had to have fillings done after all my pregnancies

mumofemily, i don't think this is a problem at all, and you most certainly don't hav e to give up BF because of it!!!

my lovely dentist said they would rather not remove amalgam fillings during pregnancy, but whilst breastfeeding it was fine. the potential amount of mercury that could get into your body is minute (especially if they use a dam in your mouth as they ought to) and what would then pass into breastmilk would really be nothing.

i've had amalgam fillings removed whilst pregnant, and root canal treatment done too

obviously you could choose to have it replaced with a non-amalgam filling. tho the main risk is having the old one drilled out so it doesn't minimise it that much

i would just have it done tho. i am quite wary of stuff like this in general, but this honestly wouldn't bother me.

oh and my dentist used a different kind of anaesthetic too when i said i was pg/breastfeeding

Thank you so much for your replies - all very reassuring. thisisyesterday, I will definitely have it replaced with a white filling this time!

I will probably wait a couple of months then, as DD (10 months) may be feeding less by then and ask them to use a dam to minimise mercury exposure.

I've had several fillings done since my DD was born and my dentist knows I'm BFing. The mercury exposure risk is minimal - IIRC you're likely to get higher exposure from a tin of tuna.

Are you worried about the local anaesthetic or the amalgam - sounds like the amalgam from what you've said? Either way, really, don't bother worrying. Get it done, carry on feeding and let your DD self-wean!

Thank you for your replies. narmada, it's more the mercury I'm worried about. Sounds like the risks are minimal though, thankfully!

mumofemily how about looking at it this way if you're really worried - do you drive your DD in a car? If so, this will be about a zillion times more risky than developing any nasty side-effect from breastfeeding through a filling replacement!

Yep - she goes in the dangerous car all the time! I guess our assessment of risk is sometimes a little illogical. I just didn't want to put my DD at any unnecessary risk.