FDA, CDC Dental Prosthesis Safety Concerns
Chicago...The American Dental Association (ADA) reports that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) addressed safety concerns raised by the media reports concerning lead in dental prostheses. According to the CDC, trace amounts of lead at a level of 200 ppm are "EXTREMELY unlikely to cause adverse health effects." The CDC does not recommend that the fabrication of necessary dental prostheses be delayed due to this finding, nor that such prostheses already in place be removed. According to the CDC response, many consumer products contain trace amounts of lead. Federal regulations limit the amount in consumer products, based on the way the body absorbs lead, its potential hazard, and the lead level product manufacturers can achieve using good manufacturing practices.
In a press release dated April 29, 2008, ADA President Mark Feldman stated, "We are still conducting our own test of dental prostheses and will take the CDC up on its offer to evaluate the results." The ADA Foundation's Paffenbarger Research Center is currently testing domestic and foreign prostheses to determine: 1) the degree to which lead may be present; 2) where the lead may be located in the prostheses; and 3) how much, if any, lead may be released from such prostheses. Their findings, once known, will be shared with the profession.
The FDA regulates the materials used to make dental crowns and bridges. The ADA research on this matter should not be viewed as usurping the duties of the FDA to continue to regulate the industry.
ADA Study: Essential Dental treatment Safe for Pregnant Women
Chicago...An ADA study published in the June issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) reports that pregnant women can safely undergo essential dental treatment and receive topical and local anesthetics at 13 to 21 weeks gestation. Obstetricians usually consider dental care for pregnant women to be safe based on the results of the Obstetrics and Periodontal Therapy Trial in which pregnant women with periodontitis received deep scaling and root planning, and essential dental treatment of moderate to severe cavities, or fractured or abscessed teeth.
The ADA reported study was based on the findings of 823 pregnant women, between 13 and 21 weeks gestation through 3 months post delivery. As a safety precaution, experts recommend that pregnant women defer elective dental care before 8 weeks gestation and in late pregnancy. In the study 483 women required essential dental care and 351 completed all recommended treatment safely.
The researchers concluded that periodontal treatment and/or essential dental treatment did not significantly increase the risk of any adverse events.
The research team was lead by Dr. Bryan Michalowski, Professor of Periodontics at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in Minneapolis.
ADA launches new oralLongevity™ Web Site
To raise the awareness of the special needs of an aging population, the ADA has face lifted its OralLongevity™ section of its Web site at www.orallongevity.ADA.org. The site contains commonly asked questions and answers; program outlines for presenting this to caregivers, professional, and patients; and clinical articles from JADA and other dental publications. This project is a cooperative venture with the ADA, the ADA Foundation, and GlaxoSmith Consumer Healthcare.
Check out the new OralLongevity web site.