Dental sealants may cause levels of BPA to increase
A new study has found that dental sealants may cause levels of BPA in the body to rise.
Dental sealants are used regularly as a preventative measure to protect and strengthen children’s teeth; however, a study has revealed that sealants can also increase the levels of an oestrogen-like substance known as BPA. BPA, also known as bisphenol-A, is a toxic chemical, which has been associated with a number of health conditions in both adults and children, according to co-author of the study, Philip Landrigan. Landrigan, director of the Children’s Environmental Health Center at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, said that the chemical has also been proven to cause conditions in animals.
Previous studies have linked BPA to diabetes, heart conditions and hormone problems in male patients. Co-author of the study, Abby Fleisch, a paediatric doctor from Children’s Hospital, Boston, said that the dental materials used in white fillings and sealants can be broken down to BPA when exposed to saliva. It is estimated that between 20 and 40 percent of children in the USA have had their teeth sealed.
It is not known how much BPA the body absorbs from the breakdown of dental materials but experts say that much greater exposure is caused by contact with plastic bottles and the linings of metal tins and cans.
Despite the warnings in the report, the majority of dentists believe that the benefits of sealants far outweigh the risks and most experts, including co-author of the study, Burdon Edelstein, would recommend the continued use of dental sealants.
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