Bisphenol A, the synthetic chemical recently labeled a dangerous substance by the federal government, may be in your dental work.
According to Health Canada, derivatives of BPA can be found in some filling materials and dental sealants.
These sealants are commonly applied to the surfaces of permanent molars to protect against tooth decay.
BPA is one of the most widely used synthetic chemicals and is found in things like water bottles, the lining of tin cans, CD's and sport helmets. When exposed to high heat, the chemical could leach into food and cause harmful effects. BPA can mimic the hormone estrogen, disrupting the normal hormonal processes. Research has linked it to causing early puberty in girls, breast and prostate cancers.
There's enough concern that Ottawa has officially labeled BPA a dangerous substance and has announced plans to limit the use of the chemical.
"Canada will be the first country in the world to take such action," Minister of Health Tony Clement said last week.
"Some of the studies that investigated bisphenol A show a very, very small leakage of the chemical when applying dental sealant, probably in the first 30 to 90 minutes after application," says Dr. Peter Chan, president of the B.C. Pediatric Dental Society
But Health Canada and the B.C. Dental Association say there is no evidence to show there is a health risk to the public.
"The form of bisphenol A used in dental materials is just in the manufacture, it's at one point," says Dr. Peter Chan.
"In the active material that you're using on the patient, there is very little to no leakage of the material," he says.
Dr. Chan says dental sealants can also vary between manufacturers, and you should contact your dentist if you have any concerns.
