Kids exposed to BPA through dental fillings and sealants

New research shows that the fillings and sealants that are brushed onto teeth to prevent decay, can expose children to the controversial chemical bisphenol A (BPA).

Dental sealants and fillings don’t contain BPA, but many of them contain compounds that turn into BPA on contact with saliva. BPA levels in saliva can jump to 88 times higher than normal directly after a sealant is used.

In response to this study, the North American dental community replied by stating that wiping off the extra sealant or resin will cut the risk of BPA exposure.

The researchers noted that the benefits of sealants in preventing kids’ cavities outweighed risks linked to the BPA exposure.

BPA is used to line the inside of many food and drink cans and has been associated to many health concerns and banned by many plastic bottle manufacturers, researchers find in the report published in the latest issue of the journal Pediatrics.

Concerns about BPA stem from studies in lab animals and cell cultures showing it can mimic the hormone estrogen. Studies have linked BPA to altered hormone levels in men and an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease in adults. Depending on a child’s age, 20% to 41% have had their teeth sealed, the study says.