We all want to maintain a healthy smile. We want to look confident and charming. However, some adverse conditions do not support our smile. One such condition is poor oral health. If you have cavities, you might hesitate to smile. Cavities will affect both your chewing ability and confidence. If you want to restore your smile and confidence, then you can try some oral solutions. One of the proven ways to treat cavities is dental sealants. These sealants are effective for young kids as well. Sealants come as a plastic coating to protect the biting surface of your molars. This protective coating will prevent the particles to settle in the fissures and cracks. Also, sealants will reduce pain. The coating will also make your teeth look impressive. As a result, you will not hesitate to smile in public places. But here the question comes: are dental sealants safe?
This question has gathered much attention. These sealants contain BPA or bisphenol-A. Therefore, parents do not find it safe for their young kids. Also, the subject has received the attention of the American Dental Association Professional Product Review (ADA PPR). In this article, we will discuss all the important aspects, safety factors, benefits, and the concern of ADA PPR if there is any.
What is the ADA PPR?
The goal of the ADA PPR is to offer up-to-date, impartial, and accurate information from the available resources. The result will be scientifically credible and free of jargon. You can trust the information and outcome. The dental sealants are widely used. These are mostly used for young kids. So, parents are a bit worried about safety and effectiveness. They want to ensure that these products are safe for their kids. All these development made ADA PPR review dental sealants to enable parents to make the right decision based on the findings. Here are the details of the finding.
Findings of the ADA PPR: Should You Consider Dental Sealants?
Parents fear to use dental sealants due to the harmful impact of the BPA. The plastic chemical can cause health issues both minor and major. It is not about the sealants only. Some plastics including cups and bottles pose the same risk. We all want a plastic product that is BPA-free to minimize the risk. How we can trust dental sealants when they contain BPA. As said by the PPR, the amount of BPA is the determining factor. In a recent study, the ADA Science Institute Staff tested around twelve dental sealants mostly used by the US dentists. The objective of the test was to find out the amount of the BPA used in those sealants and how the level can harm those kids with sealants in their mouths.
The findings of the test say a lot about the BPA and its impact depending on the age of your kid. For example, six years old will be exposed to 0-09 nanograms of BPA every day. The amount is less than the proposed amount of the Environmental Protection Agency. Any amount below one million nanograms per day will not harm your child at this age. However, your kid is exposed to more amounts of BPA through drinks, foods, and cosmetics. So, you will have to limit all those exposures instead of restricting your kid from using a dental sealant.
What Are the Benefits?
If you are worried about the BPA presence in the dental sealant, then you can go through the possible merits to overweigh the BPA exposure. According to the Huffington Post, tooth decay can be minimized to fifty percent by using dental sealants. A 10-year-old can minimize teeth decay to almost half for five years with dental sealants. However, you will have to brush your teeth regularly to maximize the benefits. Sealants will prevent cavities and subsequent crowns and filling.
Other Things to Consider
When applied right, dental sealants can be very effective to prevent further decay. They can last for a lifetime. The primary teeth can be sealed. But the process will be painful. So, make sure that your kid can go through that painful procedure. Even adults can consider sealants. Dental sealants can be effective regardless of age. However, sealants will not help much with existing dental implants or dental restoration.
Is There Any Way to Limit the BPA Exposure?
You can experience the highest amount of exposure in the first few hours following the treatment. You can minimize the exposure by considering some measures suggested by the US National Library of Medicine. You will have to try all these soon after the dentist applies the sealant to the tooth.
Take room-temperature water and use it to rinse for twenty seconds to minimize the harmful impact of the BPA by around sixty-eight percent.
Take a cotton swab and rub your treated surface to reduce the exposure of BPA by around eighty-seven percent.
Talk to your dentist to rub the area with the soft-grit pumice. Your dentist can use a prophy cup or cotton ball to rub the pumice. This step can reduce the exposure to the maximum up to ninety- five percent.
All of these steps are easy to follow. You can try any of these to reduce BPA exposure significantly. Try the last one so that you can reduce the impact up to nine-five percent. Talk to the dentist before the process to avoid a last time confusion.
Is There Any Specific Requirement for Dental Sealants?
Sealants are considered effective to prevent further tooth decay. However, if your kid is too young or the chewing surface is smooth and the crevices are not considerably deep, then the dentist might not suggest sealants. When the chewing surface is smooth, the possibility of the bacteria and food getting inside is lower. So, sealants will not be suggested in those conditions. The decision might vary depending on the dentist. If you find that any of your family members need a dental sealant, first consult an experienced dentist. Go through all the details such as the procedure, durability, and safety concerns. Also, make sure that the dentist follows some safety measures to reduce BPA exposure. A thorough discussion and smart decision can make the process more effective and safe.
Get more information on dental sealants by watching this video: