Bisphenol-A, or BPA, is widely used in making hard, clear plastic called polycarbonate. The National Toxicology Program, part of the Department of health and Human Services, has raised concerns about BPA, particularly over childhood exposure to traces that leach from polycarbonate baby bottles and the linings of infant formula cans. BPA has estrogenlike effects, and animal studies have suggested that exposure may accelerate puberty and raise a potential risk of cancer.

Traces of BPA have also been found in dental sealants. Some studies show that any exposure from the BPA in sealants is negligible and temporary. Other studies have found no detectable levels of BPA in most American-made sealants. Exposure to any BPA in sealants can be limited by polishing the tooth surface after the sealant is applied and rinsing at the end of the procedure. The study found that detectable amounts of BPA were not released from three products: Helioseal from Ivoclar Vivadent; Seal-Rite from the Pulpdent Corporation and Conseal from SDI.

Sealants prevent the growth of decay-causing bacteria in the grooves of molars and are a useful part of preventive dental practice. But concerned parents concerned about BPA exposure should ask their dentists what type of sealant they use and whether it has been tested for BPA. In my dental office on Long Island I only use Helioseal from Ivoclar which does not release BPA according to both a March review article in the Journal of the Canadian Dental Association and a 2006 article in The Journal of the American Dental Association.download trapped free paint your wagon dvdrip download

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009 at 9:25 pm and is filed under Children's Dentistry, Dental Wellness, Family Dentistry, Your Dental Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.