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New Health Concerns About Plastic Chemical BPA
Given the recent negative publicity surrounding bisphenol-A (BPA), our survey covered dental sealants and composite. One in four dentists is very worried about the safety of these products.
“It doesn’t matter if composites and sealants are safe,” wrote one respondent. “If public perception is that they are not, it is very harmful to dentistry.”
Here are some additional dentist comments on the subject:
- “The enormous and unexplained increase in the incidence of breast cancer corresponds with the advent of the bisphenol-A introduction into dentistry.” (Michigan dentist)
- “The cumulative release of BPA from composites appears to be minimal from the available research.” (New Hampshire dentist)
- “I had fellow church members ask me if they needed to get all their composites removed.” (New York dentist)
- “I am concerned that we are using a material whose biocompatibility is really unknown.” (New York dentist)
- “I am particularly concerned about using composites and sealants in children.” (Texas dentist)
- “Slow news day?” (Georgia dentist)
- “Forget about bisphenol-A. Resins are far more toxic on a cellular level than amalgam. Are you familiar to amalgam studies showing how cells in a petri dish respond to amalgam? They continue to happily divide. When unset resin is placed the cells die!” (General dentist)
- “A vegan grilled me the other day. I told him that he was at greater risk from salmonella from not washing his veggies properly!” (Colorado dentist)
- “I’m more worried about BPA in soda and water bottles. Patients have never expressed any concern.” (Arizona dentist)
- “Most patients assume that if we are doing something it is okay.” (New York dentist)
- “It’s the amalgam issue all over again. What are all the ‘Bondadontists’ going to tell their patients now?” (Virginia dentist)
Post your own comments or read the complete bisphenol-A and dental composite survey results…
Post a comment
May 21st, 2008 at 3:07 pm
How about the rise in breast cancer correlating with estrogen replacement therapy, which seems to be a much more intense and prolonged chemical exposure than is BPA from fillings?
May 23rd, 2008 at 9:07 am
Let’s not be so flipant with our responsibility to the public safety. Concerning the comment on BPA in Composite: To say that it “doesn’t matter” if it is safe or not is just not right, and to imply that what really matters is the effect it has on dentistry is even worse.
May 29th, 2008 at 8:16 am
Who puts unset resin in their patient’s mouth? How valid is a study that uses unset resin to determine response to a composite resin? I don’t think any of us would knowingly treat any of our patients in this manner. Lets see results from studies showing cured composites. This is the state in which they are used in the patients mouth!
May 29th, 2008 at 8:39 am
I stopped placing amalgams because of fractured teeth and leaking amalgams with recurrent caries that can’t be detected. Whether we are placing amalgams or composites I think we need to quit beating ourselves up. I think most of us are honestly doing what we think is best for our patients and we only have a few materials to restore teeth with. Yes, gold is the ideal restorative material, but not all of our patients can afford inlays/onlays on all their restored teeth. What do we do? We place porcelain, amalgams and composites. Any of our patients willing to go back to gold restorations on their anterior teeth? Come on guys we are doing the best we can with what we have.
August 11th, 2008 at 10:25 am
Man im a gp in nevada, porsche? hell i owed two 996,997, and traded it in for ferrari f430.hell i work hard for mine sleepless nights in dental school, that was hell, i deserve this. If you can afford why not..enjoy life and reap the rewards you only live once.
October 13th, 2008 at 10:54 am
You should add your information to wikipedia because it is not complete and many people think that composites are safe..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Dental_amalgam_controversy