My 13 year old daughter has an appointment tomorrow with our dentist to get her molars sealed with sealants. I am really unsure if I should allow her to get it done, primarily because of the potential health risks with BPA. I've been digging around the internet this morning and finding that the sealants have chemicals that when mixed with saliva, turn into BPA. Long term health risks are not yet known and this concerns me. I wonder if any mothers have researched this more thoroughly and what your findings and thoughts are about having this done.
I had not heard about BPA concerns. My stepkids both had them done years ago. My sister and I had them done years before that. I had a lot of issues as an adult with cracking and cavities getting under them (they were improperly done), but my stepkids and sister have been fine. My stepson hasn’t had a single cavity in his life. My SD gets cavities on other surfaces, but not the molars. If you are concerned, don’t get them done or ask about the product used. For us, we struggled with SD’s brushing habits as well and were hoping it would help her not have as many cavities.
I am sorry per your SHW that you were offended at some of the responses. That said, YES, I speak honestly with my family and loved ones. I do not sugar coat my words. Maybe you interpret it as harsh and critical… I will be the first to admit, I am very brutally honest. When I post a response here, I post in the same manner that I would speak to my mom and to your face if I were speaking directly to you. I am sorry is you can’t handle bluntness but I for one want someone to be blunt and honest and leave the sugar coating behind.
Original answer…
Oh my goodness… stay off the internet which is a lot of media hype to instill fear in those who live in fear and will react to any hint of something negative. I have NEVER heard of BPA and sealants but I am sure some fear mongering person can find some data somewhere.
My daughter is 18. She started getting the sealants in elementary school as her new teeth came in PER her Pediartic Dentist recommendation, my approval and they were covered by insurance (appx $50 per tooth at that time). She had all of her 12 yr molars and everything she was suppsed to have by age 10.
To this day, she has had ZERO cavities. She was blessed by good genes to be one of the 1% in this Dr’s practice to not need any orthodontic care at all. That said, she does have good dental practices, a solid diet, and does not indulge in junk food and sodas.
The only issue we have is that she will get her wisdom teeth out in the next couple of months because the are beginning to pop through and she does not want them to shift her otherwise perfect teeth.
Why would you not use a preventative such as sealants to protect your child’s teeth? They need these teeth for a lifetime, I don’t understand why someone would not opt for a simple procedure which is like applying a polish (seal) to the top of the tooth for years of protection.
I know BPA in huge quantities is not good for you, however, to get enough in your system to hurt you, you would need to inject yourself with vials of it daily for a very long time to get some damage. If you think about it, get your hands tested and there is about a 98% chance there are traces of arsenic on YOUR hands… Look at the BIG picture here and don’t focus on the media hype. The media loves to instill fear.
If it is that big of a deal to you, request BPA free and save your daugher’s teeth.
Sealants are great!
They really cut down on cavities and that means fewer fillings.
There are BPA free sealants.
A lot of the reports about it were from around 2009 - so they’ve had time to address the issue and make some that are BPA free.
Ask your dentist about what he uses and if it’s not a BPA free brand, then ask if he can order and use a BPA free sealant for your daughter.
http://www.ultrasealxt.com/Pages/bpa-free-dental-sealant.aspx
I think that people have cavities if they have weaker enamel. I think that’s probably just part of life.
I would probably not go to this extreme. Especially since they don’t know the long term effects that it can have on a person. If you really really want her to have this done then do it. I don’t think I would though.
At my son’s last checkup (he’s 6) he had a cavity inbetween his teeth. (We’re working on more flossing.) The dentist suggested the sealants on his molars, which wasn’t on the tooth that has the cavity, and I have mixed feelings about it as well. Part of me thinks it could be a good idea, but on the other, I don’t really want to add chemicals to his already sensitive little body, when they don’t really know the effects/risks it has. And I wonder if its not just a bit of upselling for the dentist office so they can make a bit more money on something that they think is preventative and harmless. When I called to make the appt. for his cavity to be fixed, they acted like I was crazy that I didn’t want the sealants as well. And she left open for me to change my mind. I don’t think we’re going to do it. I read a study that the sealants, w/BPA in it could cause hyperactivity and other behavioral issues with kids. I think they just don’t know enough to risk it.
Tina - sorry - but dental health is important. My kids teeth were sealed when they were six. They haven’t had a problem.
No. I haven’t researched BPA. And No, I guess I’m a bad mom because I didn’t research it. I don’t subscribe to all the crap they put out there. People want it bigger, better, faster - NOW - then they deal with what comes out.
I take my kids dental health seriously and had the sealants done. They have NOT had a cavity or health problem.
How does something MIX with saliva and become BPA?
Believe half of what you see and nothing of which you hear. (and stay off the internet for good measure!)
Might as well live in a bubble. According to the internet, everything is bad for us, or will kill us.
DD just got her sealants done a week ago. I will do whatever I can to make sure her mouth is in good health. Would you rather your child get stuck with cavities or need a root canal?
Call me crazy, but I’d like to think that medical professionals are usually looking out for our best interests.
My stepdaughter had hers sealed. Her mother does not enforce proper hygiene and my stepdaughter eats a lot of sweets. We (my husband and I) figured my stepdaughter needed all the help she could get. Teeth are important and as my grandmother said you only get one real set so take extra good care of them. Make sure the dentist applying the sealant knows what he or she is doing so you don’t have issues like the ones AV mentioned. Good luck whatever you decide.
My son had his molars sealed when he was 8 years old. It’s better then him getting cavities back there. They keep for a long time.
I have had enough medical scares of my own from google. Stop it. Not everything they put on the internet is true.
My brother is a dentist and recommends it. I’ll be doing it at the next appt. It should be done as soon as the 6 year old molars are fully erupted.
Hmm. Well I haven’t read these studies either but it did pique my interest as to the validity and availability of such things. I will add this though…I think there is more to cavity prevention than sealers and such. I think, in addition to this BPA issue, you need to be researching whether or not these sealants really made a significant difference in preventing cavities. My periodontist told me that cavities are really more of a genetic thing. She said that most people are either prone to cavities or prone to gum disease and yes, of course, how you brush, floss, etc. makes a difference, and can make or break your dental experience but getting sealants may not be the best option (BPA or not) for every child.
Ask the doctor if he uses this product:
http://www.septodontusa.com/products/toothfairy-bpa-free-pit-fissure-sealant
Well worth having this done-I think out of my five children, one of them got a cavity. Healthy teeth are imperative for heart health.
Don’t let people discourage you from researching. Weren’t we once told that MSG, BPA, etc…were all safe? How about mercury in vaccines? Where once docs assured us that the small amount of mercury was safe, now it’s been completely removed because of health risks.
How easily people forget.
I love how people just assume that you are one of “those people who just believe whatever the internet tells you”, yet they blindly believe whatever the pharmaceuticals tells them.
I firmly believe if something doesn’t sound right to you, to check it out. Talk to people who are both FOR and AGAINST it. That’s how most of us make informed choices. 
Kudos to you for doing your own research for the benefit of your children’s health. I think it’s great that you are questioning and concerned about what the mainstream pushes on us and our children. You don’t have to get the sealant right now. Won’t your child be going back again in 6 months for another cleaning? Do more research and find out what you want to do. I’m sure most of the respondants to your post use fluoride in their toothpaste for themselves and their children because dentists recommend it, and they also do fluoride treatments on their children at the dentist. Did you know fluoride was first used by the Nazis in Germany to calm and subdue to prisoners in concentration camps. Sorry but I don’t want to use fluoride…I don’t care what my dentist was taught in school. Doctor’s are also taught to treat the symptoms, not to get to the root of the problem…I don’t want my symptoms treated, I want to get to the root of the problem. My point is, you are your own best advocate for you and your children, don’t let anyone, doctor or otherwise pressure you into getting something done that you’re unsure of.
Best wishes!
ETA: Jane, I’m surprised that you take your dentists opinion to heart over doing your own research. The FDA has allowed GMO’s to replace most of our produce and food, and they deem it “safe”, yet you know better, right? Same goes with everything else. Question everything, maybe not out loud among everyone, but do a little research, it goes a long way. If you’d watched a documentary about BPA and it’s dangers, I wonder if you’d reconsider getting those sealants on your little ones teeth just because your dentist (who gets guidelines from the FDA) says it’s good and safe?
You can’t believe everything on the internet but the doctors, dentists and “experts” don’t always get it right, either. That’s why they change their recommendations every few years.
Here’s what happened to us: After years of cavities, and pressure from our dentist, I finally let her put sealants on my boys’ molars. They didn’t stick and had to be done again. And they didn’t stick and I started to wonder where that sealant material was going and decided to give up on the sealants and make my boys brush their teeth better. My boys were getting older, were able to brush better and started to care about having gunk in their teeth. So that worked in our favor. No more cavities for the older, still an occasional cavity for the younger boy. But no more sealants.
Well, I’m 33 and I had mine done when I was 7. I’ve never had a cavity or any others problems.
I never even thought about researching it. I got sealants when I was 7-10. So, about 25 years ago.
I haven’t had any problems, that I know of! I also have only had one cavity so far.
My kids all have sealants as well.
My thoughts…It’s probably worse to breathe all the air outside than it is to get sealants.
Laura
Many kids have faulty pits in their molars. Did the dentist say your child had faulty pits? If so, this WILL lead to cavities, often large ones with large fillings (now you have mercury if that bothers you). If no faulty pits, then its a gamble on cavities. If they end up with large fillings in the molars, those fillings will eventually crack and often result in needing to cap the tooth. I wouldn’t skip sealants if my dentist thought my kid needed them.