Is it safe to have a filling under local anaesthetic at the dentists whilst pregnant?

[LucieB]

If someone out there could shed some light on this, I would be really grateful.

I thought preggo women weren't supposed to get Mercury Amalgam fillings any more (potential hazards in vapour?). Pretty sure the local anesthetic is ok, but your dentist should know for certain.

Yes is perfectly safe..don't make the mistake I did. When i was pg with no. 1 I needed a filling, but thought the amalgam/anaesthetic/etc would harm my baby. So I didn't get it filled. A few months after the birth the hole had got to the size where I need a root canal..ouch... I should have been less precious!!!

I have read you can have fillings but the dentist has to use white ones instead of the amalgam(?) ones as the mercury is not safe for your baby. I suppose it depends on how long you've got to go before the baby is due.
IMO if you've only got a few weeks, then wait rather than have something unneccessary put into your system (anaesthetic). But obviously if you've got months to go, it will need sorting before the baby is born or you will end up with a very painful tooth and have to have it sorted anyway!

Have an appt for a filling next week at 33 weeks preg. Am having a white filling if that make any difference, but dentist said anesthetic is ok.

I had a filling when pg, but insisted on a white one cos of the concerns and got charged 80 quid for my trouble!!!

I had a temporary filling. I couldnt have waited, it was agony. Dont know what a temporary one involves but there was not much drilling and it was over quickly.

lucieB i will cut and paste a reply I gave to the question of whether it is safe to get fillings when breastfeeding as the same applies.

The absolute truth is that noone knows the answer.
The mercury in fillings issue in general is very controversial. The evidence is vague to say the least, and in my own extensive research it seems that you can find evidence to back up which ever side of the argument you happen to believe in to start with. IMO the balance of probability is yes it is completley safe.
About three or four years ago the department of health issued a memorandum to all dentists saying that amalgam fillings should not be placed in the mouths of pregnant women if at all possible, because of a theoretical risk ( no evidence as such, just to be on the safe side)to the baby.
the memorandum also said dentists should ensure that any dental nurses who were pregnant should not be unnecessarily exposed to working with amalgam fillings. There was NO mention whatsoever of the group most in danger regards this theoretical risk - pregnant dentists!
I immediately contacted both the BDA and the department of health in this respect ( I was pregnant at the time) not because I was in the least concerned but because I thought they had made themselves look pretty silly by this glaring omission. The answer I received was even more ridiculous - it was to carry on as normal as there was NO evidence to suggest any harm could be done!
Last year I took part in a large scale study which tested several variables including fine motor control, hand eye coordination, memory, anxiety( various things known to be affected by mercury toxicity) comparing dentists with a matched group. ( I had a few misgivings about the methodology but that's another story).
Funnily enough I got the results back last week and the researchers found there were no differences at all in the two groups ( They were hoping there would be a difference)
I have had mercury fillings done in my own mouth when pregnant and when breastfeeding but I suggest if you are at all concerned ask if a semi permanent material might be used, such as a glass ionomer.
I am not a fan in general of white fillings on back teeth unless the filling is a very small one.
And remember if your dentist is an NHS dentist and your baby is less than a year old your treatment is free!

Good luck.

I had a mercury filling at 2-3 weeks pregnant. My baby was born severely disabled, blind epileptic unable to walk or talk.The mercury has been proven to pass through the placenta. The foetus in the first 3 months is much more susceptable to the mercury. Do not ever have mercury fillings when pregnant or if trying for a baby.

koulis, I am sorry to hear about your baby's problems but do you have any evidence to back up your argument on this and the other thread you've resurrected?