Bisphenol-A Found In Some Cavity Sealants Too

It acts like estrogen and is a growing concern because it leaches out in minute quantities from baby bottles, the lining of cans and other food-related packaging.

So would you paint it on your children's teeth?

That's the question posed in today's New York Times about Bisphenol-A, the controversial ingredient in plastic that Canada has declared hazardous and that the National Toxicology Program expressed concerns about, but which the Food and Drug Administration and the plastics industry maintains is safe.

"Despite these concerns," the Times reports, "the American Dental Association remains strongly in favor of sealants. Dentists note that numerous studies show that any exposure they cause is negligible and temporary, lasting no more than three hours after the initial application. And other studies have found no detectable levels of BPA in most American-made sealants. Meanwhile, sealants have been shown to offer years of protection against cavities."

That seems to be the consensus, as reported by the Times. Keep your eyes on this one, though, as all uses of Bisphenol-A face greater scrutiny.

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