Fluoride release from glass ionomer activated with fluoride solutions

The mechanism of the fluoride release from glass-ionomer cements (GICs) is not yet completely understood, due to the complexity of these systems. The objective of the present study was to investigate the fluoride and alkali metal ion release from a relatively simple GIC formulation with fluoride- and alkali metal-free glass and activated with a NaF or KF solution. The set formulations were eluted during 168 days in water at 37 degrees C. The cumulative fluoride release was the result of an initial high release that ceased after some time and a prolonged but slow release, both of which increased with increasing fluoride concentrations in the activating solution, independently of the type of alkali metal. Maturation prior to elution decreased the fluoride and slowed the alkali metal release. The release of these ions was not (completely) correlated. The results suggest that the release process is due not only to a loss of relatively loosely bound fluoride in the cement matrix, but also to the release of fluoride which becomes strongly bound during the setting reaction and induces a long-term release.