Should a dental night guard wearer worry about BPA or other chemicals?

A. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a component of certain plastics, and in the past couple of years there has been a growing concern about its health effects, particularly on infants and children, because it can mimic human hormones.

Mouth guards are supplied to your dentist by dental laboratories, which are independent, private businesses. Bennett Napier, co-executive director of the National Association of Dental Laboratories, a trade organization for the industry, says that mouth guards, which are made of acrylic, would not contain BPA. However, products from different manufacturers may contain different materials. The best way to find out exactly what’s in your mouth guard is to have your dentist request the information from the laboratory. Unfortunately, Napier says that only a few states — and none in New England — require that laboratories disclose the contents of their products.

Karen Riley, a spokesperson for the Food and Drug Administration, says that all dental materials and devices must be cleared by the FDA for their intended use in the body. Custom-made devices like mouth guards would not be reviewed individually, but are required to use only materials that are FDA-approved for safety.

BPA is found in other dental materials, including composites and sealants used to treat cavities. According to the American Dental Association, a small amount of BPA may be produced when certain resins in these materials break down over time. It may also be present in trace amounts during the manufacture of the materials. The ADA has stated that current evidence suggests these low amounts do not warrant concern.