Response From American Dental Association

May 8, 2008 — -- CHICAGO (April 29, 2008)—The American Dental Association (ADA) appreciates the responses from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) addressing safety concerns raised by media reports about lead in dental prostheses such as crowns and bridges.

According to the CDC, trace amounts of lead at a level of 200 ppm, such as the amount the one Ohio news outlet reportedly found in several dental crowns, are "extremely unlikely to cause adverse health effects." The CDC also states that given the current information at hand, they do not recommend that individuals defer needed dental treatment or have existing dental crowns, bridges or other prostheses removed.

"We are glad that the CDC sees no threat to patients based upon the trace amount of lead reported," said ADA President Mark Feldman, D.M.D. "We are still conducting our own test of dental prostheses and will take the CDC up on its offer to evaluate the results."

When the story broke in February, the ADA notified the CDC and the FDA and asked the agencies to address any safety concerns. The FDA regulates the materials used to make dental crowns and bridges, and the CDC has extensive information and expertise in the area of lead exposure.

According to the CDC's response, "Many consumer products contain lead in trace amounts, and federal regulations limit the amount of lead in consumer products" based on "the way the body absorbs lead, the potential hazard, and the lead level product manufacturers can achieve using good manufacturing practices…"

The ADA is testing both foreign- and domestic-made dental crowns to determine:

The degree to which lead may be present;

Where the lead may be located (i.e., in the metal alloy, the porcelain, etc.); and

How much, if any, lead may be released from dental crowns.

Once testing is completed, the ADA will share the research findings with the dental profession, the public and the regulatory agencies responsible for protecting the public's health. However, this investigation should not be viewed as a substitute for necessary oversight and enforcement by the federal and state government agencies responsible for protecting the public's health and safety.

The ADA encourages patients to discuss any concerns about the safety of their dental crowns or other prostheses with their dentists and will continue to share information on this issue.