To say that we are affected by the environment around us is stating the obvious. But sometimes environmental factors, like industrial chemicals, have such subtle and incremental impacts that it’s easy to miss their full effect on the human body. Over the last 20 years there has been a lot of debate over the safety of the industrial chemical bisphenol A (BPA) used in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, including some dental sealants and composites. In fact, BPA is a known endocrine disruptor, or hormone-altering chemical, and affects organs and physiologic functions like reproduction and sex determinism, brain development and behavior. The Food and Drug Administration officially banned the use of BPA in baby bottles and sippy cups in 2012 due to concern about the potential effects of BPA on the brain, behavior and prostate gland of fetuses, infants and children. A recent study in Paris has linked BPA exposure to molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH), a tooth enamel defect in children. MIH causes white or brown lesions on permanent first molars and incisors which become sensitive, painful and prone to cavities. Researchers hypothesized that because MIH affects specific teeth, its causative agents must exert their effects during a specific developmental phase, i.e. when the molars and incisors mineralize which is between birth and five months of age. In the study, researchers dosed one group of rats with low levels of BPA from fetal life to 30 days after birth and another group at 100 days. Rats given the BPA early-on showed enamel defects similar to those caused by MIH in humans; the 100-day rats showed no enamel abnormalities. In another part of the study, researchers conducted cell-based experiments to investigate how BPA affects enamel formation. Researchers focused on rat ameloblast cells which are present only during the formation of tooth enamel, called amelogenesis. The experiment data suggests that ameloblasts are susceptible to BPA, but the exact way BPA disrupts the cells is still unclear. Following is an excerpt from an abstract published in The American Journal of Pathology about the study’s findings:

In conclusion, the present data indicate that ameloblasts are susceptible to BPA and that BPA may be a causative agent in human MIH etiology. The rat model has enabled us to propose a hypothetical scheme for MIH pathophysiology at the molecular level. MIH may thus represent a permanent record of exposure to BPA (or EDCs [endocrine disrupting chemicals] sharing similar molecular effects) and could be easily used as a biomarker for retrospective analysis of infant exposure to EDCs and the effect of such exposure on health in later life.

Results from the study’s findings were presented in early March at the Endocrine Society’s 97th annual meeting in San Diego, Calif. Further investigations into the molecular affects of BPA as related to MIH are sure to be conducted.

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The information contained in this, or any case study post in Incisor should never be considered a proper replacement for necessary training and/or education regarding adult oral conscious sedation. Regulations regarding sedation vary by state. This is an educational and informational piece. DOCS Education accepts no liability whatsoever for any damages resulting from any direct or indirect recipient's use of or failure to use any of the information contained herein. DOCS Education would be happy to answer any questions or concerns mailed to us at 106 Lenora Street, Seattle, WA 98121. Please print a copy of this posting and include it with your question or request.

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The information contained in this, or any case study post in Incisor, should never be considered a proper replacement for necessary training and/or education regarding adult oral conscious sedation. Regulations regarding sedation vary by state. This is an educational and informational piece. DOCS Education accepts no liability whatsoever for any damages resulting from any direct or indirect recipient's use of or failure to use any of the information contained herein. DOCS Education would be happy to answer any questions or concerns mailed to us at 3250 Airport Way S, Suite 701 | Seattle, WA 98134. Please print a copy of this posting and include it with your question or request.
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