Plastics in Dentistry and Estrogenicity: A Guide to Safe Practice

This book provides a timely and comprehensive review of our current knowledge of BPA release from dental polymers and the potential endocrinological consequences. After a review of the history and evolution of the issue within the broader biomedical context, the estrogenicity of BPA is explained. The basic chemistry of the polymers used in dentistry is then presented in a simplified and clinically relevant manner. Key chapters in the book carefully evaluate the release of BPA from polycarbonate products and composite resins and the estrogenicity of these materials. Currently available evidence on the potential estrogenic action of dental composities, sealants, and adhesives is presented, and means are suggested by which adverse health effects can be minimized. The entire dental community will find this book to be an excellent source of information on the true risks posed by BPA, and an invaluable aid to safe practice.

Theodore Eliades graduated from the School of Dentistry, University of Athens, Greece, completed the Orthodontic postgraduate program of the Ohio State University, and earned a Master’s from Ohio State, a doctorate from the University of Athens, School of Medicine, and a PhD from the University of Manchester. His research has generated 90 papers and 15 book chapters, which elucidated the in vivo ageing pattern of orthodontic materials and resultant clinical implications, receiving 800 citations. He has co-edited books on ageing of biomaterials (Quintessence), bonding to dental tissues (Springer), orthodontic materials (Thieme), orthodontic practice risk management (Quintessence), and self-ligating brackets (Wiley-Blackwell), some translated into 3 languages. A Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, and member of the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Institute of Physics, Dr. Eliades is affiliated with Universities in the US (Texas-Houston and Marquette) and EU (Manchester and Bonn), is an Associate Editor of the European Journal of Orthodontics, and the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Editorial Board member in 5 and reviewer in 22 periodicals.

Gottfried Schmalz: Since 1986 President of various national and international organizations, (CED-IADR, Pan-European Federation, Pulp Biology and Regeneration Group of IADR). German Representative in the Advisory Committee of the EU for Dental Education, Honorary member of several scientific organizations, 2007 Distinguished Scientist Award of IADR. Member of the German Academy of Sciences (Leopoldina). Editor-in-Chief of our journal Clinical Oral Investigations.