So I went to the dentist last week because I had a filling that fell out..... a year and a half ago. ( I know I should have seen about it sooner but I am not a big fan of the dentist office so I let it go as long as I could:-) Well, turns out that I need a root canal or have the tooth pulled. The dentist seemed to not want to pull it , but I would probably rather have it pulled. ( Also, the root canal after crown and all is going to cost me a whopping $800 and that is after insurance covers their part.) The tooth is in the very back and cannot even be seen. I am so used to not chewing on that side, so not having the tooth would not bother me. I also need to mention that I have 2 other amalgam fillings in the same tooth. So to have the root canal done they are going to need to drill the tooth out and I know that the amalgam fillings have mercury in them. (I know that there are only trace amounts of mercury but any amount of mercury in the body is not natural... and especially for my baby.) SO.....I guess my real question is.... is it safe to have a tooth pulled or filled while breastfeeding? Any other moms have experience or advice on this subject? Thanks in advance:-)
The Novocaine used is safe while breastfeeding... will you be getting anything else like nitrous oxide or Halcion?
Halcion = L3 considered safe
Nitrous Oxide = L3 - entering breastmilk is unlikely
Novocaine = L3 - entering breastmilk is unlikely
I was pregnant when I had to have my wisdom teeth pulled. Because the dentist didn't feel comfortable with the risk involved, he sent me to an oral surgeon. They took really good care of me and knew what was safe for the baby. I only had local anesthesia, so it wasn't ideal for comfort, but it was safe for the baby. I can't help you with the issue of the mercury, but my guess is that it is perfectly fine. Hope it all goes well!!
I had 3 root canals during my last pregnancy and everything turned out fine. I doubt there is a problem with breastfeeding and a root canal.
I just had a root canal on my back tooth while pregnant... I didn't get to use nitrous or anything besides them numbing me. I was a little freaked out by it, but it was actually not that bad.... I also had amalgam fillings on the tooth, both my doctor and dentist gave the okay.
I've had lots of dental work done while breastfeeding. They just give me different shots that's safe for BF. Good luck! YUCK! ;)
I had root canals done when I was breastfeeding my first son. Because I had had SO MANY, I opted for the nitrous & pumped and dumped for the time period the surgeon said it would be in my system. I think the Novacaine, because it was local, was considered a non-issue, but I don't really remember now (and I was pumping/dumping anyway).
Talk to your oral surgeon/dentist about your specific concerns and put in a call to your local La Leche League as well. The doc wil likely consider the Hg (mercury) a non-issue, but if there is ANY concern, the LLL will know.
Your dentist should be knowlegable on the subject. I had dental work done while pregnant and while nursing. My grown sons are fine.
I had 2 root canals while pregnant. Everything went fine.
Honestly you don't want that tooth pulled, unless your going to get a bridge or an implant right away.
Even a year of having a missing tooth causes your teeth to shift and space out to compensate for the missing tooth....especially the big ones in the back. You may not notice it at first, but it happens.
Im sure you'll be fine. =)
http://www.infantrisk.com/ This is a wonderful website with accurate and up to date about the safety of various medications etc during pregnancy and breastfeeding. I would take a look at what it says.
I know a friend who had a root canal while breastfeeding and she's a postpartum doula so I would think she would know.
Any infection or other complications of not getting the tooth taken care of are worse then getting them taken care of.
Also, nitrous only is in your system as long as it is taking effect. It is a gas so when they give you the oxygen when your done it flushes out the nitros from your system and you are good. You would not have to pump and dump or not nurse after it was flushed from your system by the oxygen they give you at the end.
I was breast feeding and my wisdom teeth came in , same time her molars came in. I went to an oral surgeon and they put me under and took out the teeth.
I pumped for my hubby to feed her, she was 8 months, and then after I came home I was told she would be sleepy if any of the drugs were ingested by her but it wouldn't harm her.
I had a wisdom tooth pulled & a root canal while I was nursing. They told me to 'pump & dump' after having it removed for just one day. Sorry, not fun.
Aside from the other teeth drifting after having the tooth out, the tooth above it, if it is on the bottom, will actually come down because it wants to have something to hit against, until eventually, you will lose the top tooth, as well. No fun. Try to keep as many teeth as you can because partials hurt, bridges are very expensive and implants are even more so. If the dentist is willing to do the work, it is most likely safe for the baby because he does not want to be responsible for having anything happen to your baby. Good luck to you!!!
