Tonight and tomorrow night at 8 pm eastern time CNN will air a two night investigative report with Dr. Sanjay Gupta entitled, “Toxic America” focusing on five chemicals, including Bisphenol A (BPA).
On CNN’s website they cite dental sealants as one source of BPA. We also know that BPA can be found in most tooth colored (composite) filling materials so we felt it was important to educate our patients on this issue. We refer you to a statement that has been posted on the website of the American Dental Association(ADA) since 2008, and which has been provided to CNN:
This statement is from the American Dental Association’s Council on Scientific Affairs and reads as follows:
“According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), dental caries remains the most common chronic disease of children aged 5 to 17 years- 5 times more common than asthma (59% versus 11%). Untreated cavities can cause pain, dysfunction, absence from school, and poor appearance–problems that can greatly affect a child’s quality of life. The utility of composite resin materials for both restoring dental health and preventing caries is well established, while any health risks from their use are not. The ADA fully supports continued research into the safety of BPA; but, based on current evidence, the ADA does not believe there is a basis for health concerns relative to BPA exposure from any dental material.”
If you have any questions related to this issue please give our office a call or go to the ADA’s website at: http://www.ada.org/3026.aspx?currentTab=1#top and
http://www.ada.org/sections/professionalResources/pdfs/patient_80.pdf