Are Dental Sealants Safe For Children?
Sealants are a protective covering which are applied to the back teeth and help prevent dental caries, especially on the chewing surfaces. One research team in Spain believes that sealants release an estrogenic compound, bisphenol A, into the oral environment. Most U.S. research teams, however, believe that American-made sealants do not release any detectable estrogenic compounds, and are therefore safe for use in children. Estrogens are steroid hormones which are responsible for the development of genitalia, ovaries, breasts, and other secondary sex characteristics. Xenoestrogens are estrogen-mimics which have disruptive effects on cells with high levels of estrogen receptors. Although xenoestrogens are chemically unrelated to natural estrogen, they can bind to the body’s estrogen receptors and cause inappropriate signals to be transmitted. Xenoestrogens compete with natural estrogen, 17B-estradiol, for hormone binding sites in certain cells. Major sources of xenoestrogens include pes
