The public health benefits of breast feeding and controlling tooth decay in children are established. Studies do not associate mercury poisoning with the use of amalgams in pregnant women, fetuses, infants, or young children. Because children are more sensitive to the effects of mercury than adults, research continues into the possibility of as-yet undiscovered effects of low-level mercury exposure from dental amalgams in fetuses, breast-fed infants, and young children. Alternatives to amalgam fillings are available for people who choose to avoid them.