Hi,
I just went to a new dentist today at the local university. The dentist there says I need to have 5 composite fillings removed and replaced with amalgam fillings b/c I have current cavities growing under the fillings. I think replacing my fillings sounds excessive and unnecessary and wonder about the safety of doing so while breastfeeding. I currenty tandem nurse an 8 month old and a 2 yr old. the dentist assures me the amalgam fillings are safe, despite the mercury content - info I can't verify in my research - and I forgot to mention to her that I breasfeed. Anyone have any thoughts on this? I don't know what to do and my appointment is Monday 7/17.
Thanks! Michelle

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hi circlemama,
do you have any more info or know where i can get some?
thanks, michelle

There have been some threads on removing fillings and breastfeeding.
I don't have specific research, but there is alot of information on the subject of silver/mercury fillings. Personally, I wouldn't let any member of my family get these fillings, breastfeeding or not. Start digging and make your best decision.

no i won't let them put amalgam in my mouth. everything i've read though has been related to REMOVING the fillings - this dentist wants to take out my composite fillings and replace them with amalgam. just wondering if there's a difference btwn removing old or installing new fillings.
after talking with a lot of people including my old dentist, i think this new dentist is a quack and i will NOT be going back to see her ever!!!

Yeah, my dentist, who is happy enough to use the stuff for new filings unless you tell her not to, even she told me that taking my old ones out could make me very sick and we'd have to do it slowly and carefully and not while I was pregnant or breast feeding.
But if you have cavities growing under them, that's a quandary, cos do you want multiple root canals and lose your teeth altogether?
Sound like you need to eat a lot of that butter the other thread on this page talks about, and fast.
good luck

Amalgam fillings release mercury on a constant basis. Even the ADA admits this now. And much more is released with placement and removal.
They are not safe for anyone. Would you put lead fillings in your mouth? Mercury is ranked MORE TOXIC than lead.

See the article linked there from Discover magazine: "Our Preferred Poison" it's very readable.
Most dentists do not do their own research, and they just go by whatever the ADA says. Think on this: how on earth is the ADA going to ever be able to admit they poisoned millions of people?

thanks for the advice. i'll have to find that discover article and eat lots of butter... ;-)