Bisphenol A Could Be In Your Teeth
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.24.08
And you thought all you had to worry about was the mercury in your fillings; according to Carly Weeks in the Globe and Mail, studies have found detectable levels of BPA in the saliva of patients after they received sealants or fillings, but experts are divided as to whether this low exposure constitutes a health risk. Mainstream dentists deny it`s a problem: "We're a small part of what is perhaps a much larger problem," Darryl Smith of the Canadian Dental Association told the Globe. "The amount of bisphenol A is extremely low in dental materials and in some [it] is non-existent."
But "a study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association in 2006, found some dental products leach BPA and could result in low-dose exposures within the range in which health effects have been seen in rodents." ::Globe and Mail
The Industry on Bisphenol A and Dentistry
The American Dental Association writes:
On November 26, 2007, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the availability of the Bisphenol A Expert Panel Report Link opens in separate window. Pop-up Blocker may need to be disabled. on the reproductive and developmental effects of BPA1. The report states that, “Dental sealant exposure to bisphenol A occurs primarily with use of dental sealants bisphenol A dimethylacylate. This exposure is considered an acute and infrequent event with little relevance to estimating general population exposures.”
The Always Illuminating Bisphenol A site put up by the American Chemistry Council says "A review of key studies on dental resins containing BPA-based materials reveals that the highest reported acute oral exposure to BPA is more than 50,000 times lower than levels shown to cause acute oral toxicity in animal studies. Although repeated exposure to BPA from dental resins is not expected to occur, the highest reported acute oral exposure is also below the maximum acceptable or "reference" dose for BPA, which is set for repeated exposure over a lifetime. Consequently, exposure to BPA from dental resins for both adults and children is minimal and poses no known risk to human health."
-even though we are not talking about acute oral toxicity, we are worried about the effects of endocrine disruptors.
Others think that it does have an effect in small doses. A study of Estrogenicity of resin-based composites and sealants used in dentistry concluded that "The use of bis-GMA-based resins in dentistry, and particularly the use of sealants in children, appears to contribute to human exposure to xenoestrogens."
The American Dental Association didn't like this study and responded saying "Hence, none of the dental sealants that carry the ADA Seal release detectable BPA, although it must be emphasized that there is no evidence to suggest a link between any adverse health condition and BPA leached out of dental sealants." American Dental Association Statement on Bisphenol A Leaching From Dental Sealants
Prevention instead of drilling and filling is wonderful; they didn't have dental sealants when I was a kid, and I have a mouth full of mercury. Unfortunately, changing your dental sealant is not as easy as changing your water bottle, but it is something to think about before you put that anti-cavity sealant on your kids' teeth.
See also:
Don't Buy A Nalgene Water Bottle Until You Read This
BPA Danger may be greater from Tin Cans than Water Bottles
Nalgene Dumps Bisphenol A Like Hot Potato :
Polycarbonate Water bottles
Canada Calls Bisphenol A "Dangerous"
Time to Pack In the Polycarbonates
Bottled Water - Lifting the Lid :
MEC Nixes Nalgenes
Health effects:
Hot Water + Polycarbonate Bottles = More Gender-Benders
Gender Bender Chemicals Also Make You Fat
Alternatives:
A Safer Sippy for Your Little Green Angels
Stefani Water Purifiers: an Alternative to Plastic
Thirsty for more? Check out these related articles:
- FDA Throwing BPA Panel Under the Bus
- Mercury Pollution Rising
- BPA Update: How Science Works at the FDA
- FDA Chair Studying BPA Took $5 Million Donation From BPA Supporter
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The dentist in my life was wondering if there's an alternative to these resins.
And what about orthodontics?
Retainers (both the traditional wire type and the clear mouthguard type) are made with polycarbonate plastic. And having those in your mouth 8-24 hours a day has got to leach more BPA than you'd get from a watter bottle, yes?
The mouthguard "invisalign" types also wear from grinding between molars. Is there any word on this?
It's crazy to think that all this time we have been exposed to BPA but until this recent spur in interest over it, it was brushed under the rug. Our lives are consumed by BPA. It is in fillings in our teeth, it lines the metal in our canned foods, and in our plastic food containers. It is scary to know that BPA is found in most baby bottles and sippy cups. There are many new companies coming out with BPA free bottles though. As far as plastic drinking bottles for adults go, Camelbak has always been BPA free and Nalgene and REI are coming out with a BPA-free lines, too.
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