Oral Health Topics
Bisphenol A
ADA’s consumer information is now available on MouthHealthy.org—our new website developed just for you. Visit MouthHealthy.org to find answers to all your dental-related questions so we can help you be Mouth Healthy for life.
To find information about the topic listed on this page, please visit the MouthHealthy.org page about Bisphenol A (BPA).
Bisphenol A (BPA) is widely used in the manufacture of many consumer plastic products. BPA is used in the manufacture of products such as hard polycarbonate water bottles, some baby bottles, and the lining of food cans and bottle tops. There is also evidence that some dental sealants, and to a lesser extent dental composites, may contribute to very low-level BPA exposure.
BPA can become part of dental composites or sealants in three ways: as a direct ingredient, as a by-product of other ingredients in dental composites or sealants that may have degraded, and as a trace material left-over from the manufacture of other ingredients used in dental composites or sealants.
Some scientific studies have suggested that BPA, like soy and phthalates, may affect reproduction and development in animals by mimicking the effects of the female hormone estrogen, thereby raising concerns about its safety. To date, these effects have not been observed in humans and are questionable at the exposure levels resulting from consumer and dental products.
The ADA believes any concern about potential BPA exposure from dental sealants or composites is unwarranted at this time. When compared with other sources of BPA, these dental materials pose significantly lower exposure concerns.
The Journal of the American Dental Association
- Evidence-Based Clinical Recommendations for the Use of Pit-and-Fissure Sealants: A Report of the American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs (March 2008)
- A Message from the Division of Science (September 2006)
- Exposure to Bisphenol A from Bis-Glycidyl Dimethacrylate–Based Dental Sealants (March 2006)
- Direct and Indirect Restorative Materials (April 2003)
- Pharmacokinetics of Bisphenol A Released from a Dental Sealant (January 2000)
- Minimizing Patients’ Exposure to Uncured Components in a Dental Sealant (December 1999)
- BIS-GMA–Based Resins in Dentistry: Are They Safe? (February 1999)
- In Vitro Elution of Leachable Components from Dental Sealants (November 1997)
- Dental Materials and Estrogenicity (September 1996)
Additional resources
- Bisphenol A and Dental Materials
- Bisphenol A (BPA), U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- Draft of NTP Brief on Bisphenol A. [CAS No. 80-05-7], National Toxicology Program (PDF)
- Is There a Risk of Harm or Toxicity in the Placement of Pit and Fissure Sealant Materials? A Systematic Review
- Science in the News: Pediatric Authors Evaluate Exposure to BPA from Dental Materials
