09/09/2010 // West Palm Beach, FL, US // Sandra Quinlan // Sandra Quinlan
West Palm Beach, FL—A report published in the journal Pediatrics stated millions of children in the U.S. are exposed to BPA (bisphenol-A) upon undergoing dental work in which dental sealants are used. BPA, a toxic chemical often found in plastics, has long been subject to scrutiny by health experts and parents alike, according to information provided in a Tuesday, September 7, 2010 CNN article.
Dr. Philip Landrigan, a pediatrician at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, explained, “It is absolutely clear that bisphenol-A is a toxic chemical and an endocrine disruptor. We know this from studies in humans, and in animals.”
The Pediatrics report contended that while dental sealants only contain derivatives of BPA, those derivatives “metabolize into actual BPA when exposed to saliva.”
BPA, which has been used in the manufacture of plastics and the linings of metal cans, has possible links to several adverse health effects. In adults, it is believed BPA can contribute to heart disease. In young kids, BPA may lead or contribute to developmental issues.
Though the Pediatrics paper discloses the potential for BPA exposure resultant of the use of dental sealants, Landrigan contended the actual amount of exposure is most likely “pretty small.”
Nonetheless, “We hope that the publication of this article will stimulate manufacturers of these products to make safer products. We want to create attention, so parents start shopping for products without those chemicals,” Landrigan added.
Given that BPA seems to imitate the hormone estrogen, some doctors seem to believe it can have significant negative effects on children, even in small doses.
However, Dr. Joel Berg, chair of Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Washington, claimed dental sealants are safe for use on children. “There’s more estrogen in a mother’s kiss than there is in a sealant,” Berg noted.
BPA remains a controversial topic of debate.
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