[Pricklecushion]

Hi ladies,

I was just talking to my dentist and he told me I should change one of my amalgam fillings because it is beginning to crack. I did some research and found that there is A LOT of talk on the subject regarding possible increased mercury toxicity when you get the amalgam filling removed. (I read the fillings release mercury daily anyway, but in a lesser amount and should be removed because of that also)

I was wondering if anyone has any knowledge in this area and knows how long someone should wait after getting the filling removed to get pregnant.

The FDA recently made a statement about it. Here is a video clip I found: Video

-Teresa

[futuremom]

There is a lot of talk about the mercury in amalgams but the ADA still stands by them and says they are safe. I am a dental hygienist and we still use amalgam fillings routinely in our office. The dentists I work with say the amount of mercury is so small the risk is very minimal.

[jorstad]

i too am a hygienist and agree they are harmless
definately get cracked ones replaced so they don't decay though

jaime

[nursesunshine]

My husband is a pediatric dentist. He says that most of the mercury released (which is very minimal) would be in removing them. If they are OBVIOUSLY cracked and causing problems then replace them. DH used to work as a general dentist before specializing and he says that lots of dentists are over-eager to replace fillings. (They have bills to pay). DH actually sent me to a friend of his for a checkup who is a general dentist and he wanted to replace some of mine because he said they are cracked. That was over 2 years ago and I brought my x-rays home and DH went over them with some other specialists and they all said it was totally unnecessary to replace them. So, I would say that unless they are actually causing you trouble, leave them alone.

[Pricklecushion]

Thank you so much for your responses. There is so much talk about how toxic they are, but on websites that I have no idea about the sources. When the FDA recently declared they could be a problem it just got me more worried.

Nursesunshine,
Since I want to cycle in October I will leave them alone so that more mercury isn't realeased. I will make sure they aren't going to crack in the near future though.

Thanks again!

-Teresa

[Linz712]

I was dental assistant for about 8 years- and while yes there is some mercury in fillings- they are still very safe and approved. You really will be in a much worse prediciment if you delay treatment, especially if they are cracked or decaying. I would specifically ask your dentist- as there so so many scenarios. Not to scare you- but cracked amalgam filings- especially big ones lead to cracked teeth- which many times lead to crowns or sometimes rootcanals. You don't want to end up in pain during all this IVF stuff. Better to get the simplefix now. Liek I said, ask your dentist for specifics- maybe they are no big deal and can wait. But really, if you trust your dentist, most of them are great and are not doing work just to pay bills. If you think your dentist is like that- then you need to get a new one!

[Pricklecushion]

Linz,

Thank you for the info on amalgam fillings. I am going to see my dentist next week and have him look again to let me know where I am. I definitely wouldn't want to have an issue during a cycle that's for sure.

Thanks again!

-teresa