Naturally Getting Pregnant

Went to the dentist today. Why am I writing about it here? Because, yes, it may have to do with my fertility.

After my teeth were cleaned and my dentist poked at each one he proclaimed, “They look great!” I thought that good news was the end of my visit, but he continued by recommending that I replace my two small amalgam fillings with composite fillings.

What are amalgam fillings and why replace them?

The American Dental Association defines amalgam fillings as a mixture of two or more metals in which mercury is a component. Experts agree that these fillings release small amounts of mercury vapor every day (like when we chew or drink warm liquids) which our bodies then absorb. The problem is that mercury is known to be toxic to the human body at certain levels. This is where the debate starts.

Are the levels of mercury released by amalgam dental fillings hazardous to our health and does it constitute their removal?

The answer to this question remains open. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the World Health Organization, and the Center for Disease Control currently agree that there is not enough evidence to show that the fillings are a health risk. But on their website, the FDA states, “Dental amalgams contain mercury, which may have neurotoxic effects on the nervous systems of developing children and fetuses.” The debate is clearly ongoing and studies are yielding results to support both sides. The FDA is reviewing the newest scientific results and is expected to report in 2009 on the safety of amalgam fillings.

Although the debate in the U.S. continues some countries have taken measures to reduce amalgam fillings by recommending against them or banning them altogether as in Sweden and Denmark.

Should I replace them? 

For me, the question of whether or not I should replace my fillings came about a year ago when I started researching the potential health risks of mercury. In the process, I read several accounts of women who had struggled with infertility and attributed their improved health and getting pregnant in part to the removal of the fillings. These stories are certainly not hard evidence of cause and effect but enough to make me curious.

When I asked my dentist, though, he assured me - at the time - that there just wasn’t enough research to show that the removal of the fillings would be a health benefit. He added that the removal (as well as the placement) causes the greatest exposure to the mercury. This, however, was the same dentist that told me today that I should replace them.

Was his change in recommendation based on new research, on wanting to make money off the replacement or for cosmetic reasons? After questioning him for quite a while I realized there was no getting a straight answer out of him. And when I mentioned that I was trying to get pregnant, he recommended leaving them in. But he said, “They won’t last forever, and you’ll have to get them out some time.”

I wish these questionable mercury fillings weren’t in my mouth but since there in - nice and tight - I’m going to leave them there. As of yet, I have been unable to find solid evidence that they affect fertility and the high exposure to mercury while taking them out is too high of a risk. This high risk is not just for pregnant women but also for women who plan on getting pregnant since it takes months for the body to eliminate mercury from the body.

If you enjoyed reading my blog, please write a comment here or bookmark it to a social bookmarking site by using the link below. Thanks!

Links
Centers for Disease Control Amalgam Fillings Factsheet:
http://www.cdc.gov/oralHealth/publications/factsheets/amalgam.htm
Food and Drug Administration Consumer Information on Amalgam:
http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/consumer/amalgams.html
American Dental Association Filling Facts:
http://www.ada.org/prof/resources/topics/materials/dental_fillings_facts_full.pdf
Executive Summary of Review for U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS):
http://www.lsro.org/presentation_files/amalgam/amalgam_execsum.pdf