Hardly anyone realizes this, but the FDA's involvement in scrutinizing the safety of BPA could bring excitement to dentistry in the next few months. Composite fillings, the tooth-colored ones that people are selecting over silver-mercury amalgam fillings, also contain BPA. The FDA is currently scrutinizing amalgams for toxicity as well. If both are banned, dentists in the US will not be able to fill cavities. Is that not incredible?
But that is not all. BPA is not only in composites, but it is in sealants and denture plastic. It is found in the adhesive that holds orthodontic brackets to teeth, as well as the adhesive that holds porcelain inlays and veneers secure. BPA is in nightguards, bleaching trays, orthodontic retainers: The fact is, if it is not metal or porcelain, it is plastic. If it is plastic, and it is hard enough to withstand biting forces, it has BPA.
There is more. Author Lisa Bankard mentions that heat causes accelerated release of BPA. A plastic bottle of drinking water is usually room temperature or colder, whereas dental fillings are kept at around 98.6 degrees 24 hours a day, bathed in saliva, citrus juices and sometimes gastric acids, alcohol and hot smoke.
And talk about watching out for cracks, if one has composite fillings or wears dentures, microscopic chunks of plastic are swallowed every time one touches their teeth together. It is a well-known fact that composites wear much faster than silver fillings. If my dentist had talked me into changing out my amalgams for composites because of mercury toxicity, I would be very upset with him and I would find another dentist.
Friends, there are no other alternative materials for filling teeth. As a nation, are we stupid or what?
Monday Medical: Plastic chemicals may pose danger
Hardly anyone realizes this, but the FDA's involvement in scrutinizing the safety of BPA could bring excitement to dentistry in the next few months. Composite fillings, the tooth-colored ones that people are selecting over silver-mercury amalgam fillings, also contain BPA. The FDA is currently scrutinizing amalgams for toxicity as well. If both are banned, dentists in the US will not be able to fill cavities. Is that not incredible?
But that is not all. BPA is not only in composites, but it is in sealants and denture plastic. It is found in the adhesive that holds orthodontic brackets to teeth, as well as the adhesive that holds porcelain inlays and veneers secure. BPA is in nightguards, bleaching trays, orthodontic retainers: The fact is, if it is not metal or porcelain, it is plastic. If it is plastic, and it is hard enough to withstand biting forces, it has BPA.
There is more. Author Lisa Bankard mentions that heat causes accelerated release of BPA. A plastic bottle of drinking water is usually room temperature or colder, whereas dental fillings are kept at around 98.6 degrees 24 hours a day, bathed in saliva, citrus juices and sometimes gastric acids, alcohol and hot smoke.
And talk about watching out for cracks, if one has composite fillings or wears dentures, microscopic chunks of plastic are swallowed every time one touches their teeth together. It is a well-known fact that composites wear much faster than silver fillings. If my dentist had talked me into changing out my amalgams for composites because of mercury toxicity, I would be very upset with him and I would find another dentist.
Friends, there are no other alternative materials for filling teeth. As a nation, are we stupid or what?
July 7, 2008 at 9:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )