Your White fillings Might Be Toxic?

admin — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 19:48:40 +0000

I hope this information is helpful. As a Dentist In Downers Grove, Illinois I like to provide factual Information which is the key to understanding and as a Doctor I want to keep you informed about all the health related issues that we face in our daily lives.

Are your white fillings toxic? An article about bisphenol A and dental materials has received wide spread coverage in such media as USA Today and MSNBC. What is Bisphenol A (BPA) all about?

It is a plastic that has been used for over 50 years in many consumer products. The current notoriety is from baby and water bottles; although it is also present in linings of metal cans for food, in thermal printing paper and in dental materials, including sealants. The concern is that BPA is an endocrine disruptor that mimics the body’s own hormones, primarily estrogen. Although good research is lacking in establishing this claim, the

Endocrine Society, in 2009 released a scientific statement expressing concern over the current human exposure to BPA from all sources.

The following information is provided by the American Dental Association. The concern with bisphenol A is related to dental materials (primarily white bonded fillings) and dental sealants for children. Dental materials containing Bis-GMA have trace amounts of bisphenol A (BPA) as a byproduct of the manufacturing process.

Of the two types, only Bis-GMA will not react with saliva to break down into BPA. Most FDA approved dental materials are of the Bis-GMA type therefore we consider your white fillings not to be toxic.

The other concern is with dental sealants for children. Although BPA is detected for up to three hours after sealant placement, the levels drop off quickly. The authors believe however, the proven benefits of sealants to reduce decay far
outweigh the potential risk of a brief BPA exposure.

This exposure can also be minimized by thorough rinsing after the sealants are placed. There are alternative materials that can be used in place of dental sealants but they do not seal the tooth as well.

The one-time exposure to BPA from sealants is about 200 times lower than the level EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) considers safe.

Dental materials are far less likely to cause BPA exposure than other consumer goods such as plastic bottles and linings of metal cans.