Question from Kimberly
Hi Lisa,
Years of searching for dental composite replacements for simple fillings.
Most of them have BPA and TEGMA related compounds. The ones that do not still have horrible chemical tastes to them.
Would love some safer alternatives.
Lisa’s Answer
The most comprehensive study I have seen that actually tests the composites is the following from PubMed.gov:
Table 4 shows a list of composites that do not contain bis-GMA ( the most commonly used BPA derivative). Only 1 contained neither Bis-GMA nor TEGDMA.
I can’t speak to the taste of any of them.
You might ask your Dentist to help you identify some options and request a Material Data Sheet. Look out for the following: BPA, bis-GMA, TEGDMA, or UDMA. Just because it claims to be BPA-Free doesn’t mean there isn’t potential exposure to BPA as derivatives such as bis-GMA can convert to BPA in the mouth.
I looked at that article and the only one that doesn’t have BPA derivatives contains yttrium which is associated with lung cancer. Also another article claims that both methacrylate and silorane composite resins are cytotoxic.