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SafeCurated

Dental Filling

Getting a dental filling while breastfeeding is safe. Composite (white) fillings are the first choice and pose no concern. Amalgam fillings contain mercury — while the risk from a single filling is very low, most dentists choose composite materials for new fillings in breastfeeding mothers as a reasonable precaution.

Composite resin fillings contain no mercury and are completely safe while breastfeeding. Silver amalgam fillings do release trace amounts of mercury vapor, and mercury can transfer into breast milk — though the amounts from a standard filling are very small. The FDA recommends that dentists consider alternatives to amalgam for pregnant and breastfeeding women when clinically appropriate. Composite is standard practice now regardless. Numbing with lidocaine is safe — see the dental anesthesia entry.
Sources: FDA, LactMed, ADA

Always confirm with your doctor or lactation consultant before making dietary changes while breastfeeding.

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