At 05:22 PM 6/9/98 EDT, you wrote:
>Does  removing  mercury  fillings pose a risk to breastfeeding? A mom I am
>working with is having her  mercury fillings removed and replaced. She is
>nursing a 7 month old. Her concern is for whether the mercury that may be
>inhaled during removal may cause increased  levels in her  milk. Anyone?

Diane, I am in the process of having my mercury fillings removed also and
replaced with non-mercury fillings.  My dentist is taking great precaution
for himself, his assistant and myself.  They both wear special masks that
screen mercury vapors, and for me, he is inserting a rubber dam onto my
mouth that keeps me from swallowing any mercury, or saliva that has any in
it.  I am also breathing oxygen during the procedure to prevent inhaling
the mercury vapors. Even with that, he has recommeded oral detox and
supplement treatment to help rid my body of any mercury that is taken in.

If she is having all of her mercury fillings removed and other material
used, then her dentist probably knows about the hazards of mercury and can
advise her of precautions. If there is just one filling that needs to be
replaced urgently, she could still take the precautions--the dam, etc--but
the exposure would be much less.

Personally, I would wait until I were no longer breastfeeding before
undertaking such a major procedure.  My dentist also has me taking herbs
and supplements to detoxify my body for several months after a removal, the
appointments for which are spaced 4-5 months apart.

Most people don't appreciate the hazards of mercury in our mouths and in
dental procedures, as I didn't for most of my life.

Patricia Gima, IBCLC
Milwaukee
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