Dental composite materials and renal function in children

Objective To examine whether greater exposure to resin-based composite materials, which may intra-orally release bisphenol A (BPA), is associated with worse renal function outcomes in children. Design Prospective multi-centre study. Setting Community health dental clinics in Boston and Maine from 1997-2005. Subjects and methods Five hundred and thirty-four New England Children's Amalgam Trial participants aged six to ten years were randomised to treatment with amalgam or resin-based composite restorations over five years of follow-up. Interventions Restorations were placed according to treatment arm, and sealants placed per standard of care. Cumulative composite exposure was calculated using surface-years (each treated surface weighted by number years present). Main outcome measures Urinary excretion of albumin, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT), and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) were available for 417 children. Results Analysis of covariance showed no association between exposure to dental composites, polyacid-modified compomer, or flowable composite dental sealants and preventative resin restorations with levels of renal function. There was no association between composite materials and thresholds indicating renal damage in logistic regression models. Conclusions This study found no harmful associations between dental composite materials and renal function in children. Therefore, concerns about renal function need not be a consideration in the choice of dental restoration material or placement of preventative dental sealants.