BPA used in dental sealants

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NEW YORK, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- Bisphenol A -- a chemical linked to behavioral, prostate and urinary tract changes -- is found in sealants used in pediatric dentistry, U.S. researchers say.

Researchers at New York City's Mount Sinai School of Medicine reviewed 10 years of toxicology studies.

The review, published in the journal Pediatrics, finds bisphenol A detectable in saliva for up to 3 hours after sealants containing BPA derivatives were used in children's teeth but concluded the overwhelming benefits to oral health outweighed the brief exposure to BPA.

"These dental products are still safe and an effective way to promote good oral health, but dentists should take precautions to reduce potential absorption of this chemical and the negative side effects associated with it," study leader Dr. Philip Landrigan says in a statement.

Precautions suggested include using less risky BPA derivatives -- such as bis-GMA over bis-DMA -- and taking action that lessens exposure, such as rubbing the surface with pumice to remove the top liquefied layer of the sealant and encouraging the patient to rinse for 30 seconds. The researchers suggest women not use sealants with BPA during pregnancy.