Fluoride release from aesthetic dental materials

The objective of the study was to compare the amounts of fluoride released by two glass-ionomer cements, a resin-modified glass-ionomer cement, a compomer and a fluoride-containing composite into deionized water and artificial saliva. Disc samples of each of the materials were fabricated and placed in either water or artificial saliva. Fluoride analysis of the media was performed periodically over 64 days. The data were analysed to show the rate of fluoride release per cm2 per hour for each material. The results showed that the fluoride release rate for all the materials in both solutions decreased dramatically after 24 h. The release rate in artificial saliva was significantly less than in water (P < 0.001). The resin-modified glass-ionomer cement consistently displayed the highest fluoride release rate per hour into both media.