Benzocaine,Articaine,Mepivacaine for dental work

[Vcvaden]

hello,
i have some dental work scheduled and would like to know about the safety of the following with respect to breastfeeding my 6 month old.

20% Benzocaine gel to be used topically
4% Articaine HCL with 1:100k epi
3% Mepivacaine plain

also are there any types of fillings I need to avoid? I have one filling currently that will be replaced.

Thanks in advance!

[admin]

Vcvaden,

These medications are all ok for dental work, they stay mostly where they are injected.

We prefer composite fillings over silver amalgam fillings because of the mercury content.

If the filling you are having removed is a silver amalgam we recommend the dentist use certain precautions.
"Because heat during the grinding process can vaporize the mercury and enhance absorption by the mother, suggest that the dentist use copious amounts of cold water irrigation to minimize heat, use a rubber dam to isolate her mouth from the particles, and use an alternate source of air (oxygen) to minimize mercury vapor inhalation during removal of the amalgam." (Medications and Mothers' Milk database, Thomas Hale PhD.)

Sandra Lovato R.N.
InfantRisk Center
806-352-2519