A comparison of fluoride release by resin-modified GIC and polyacid-modified composite resin

The objective of this study was to compare the fluoride release of 2 fluoride-containing orthodontic adhesives from bracketed teeth and adhesive disks, a resin-modified glass ionomer cement (Fuji Ortho LC, encapsulated; GC America Corp, Aslip, Ill) and a polyacid-modified composite resin (Assure; Reliance Orthodontic Products, Itasca, Ill). A composite resin without fluoride (Transbond XT; 3M Unitek, Monrovia, Calif) was used as a reference control. Metal brackets were bonded to the buccal surfaces of 120 human premolars (40 teeth per adhesive), and disks were made from each adhesive. The deionized storage water was changed, and fluoride release was measured at specified intervals up to 28 days for the bracketed teeth and up to 150 days for the disks. Fuji Ortho LC released 75% more accumulated fluoride than Assure (6.61 microg/bracket vs 3.77 microg/bracket) from bracketed teeth over the 28-day observation period. Assure released more fluoride per day than did Fuji Ortho LC from the disks during the first 3 months. For the rest of the 150-day period, Fuji Ortho LC released more fluoride per day than did Assure. The amount of fluoride released by these materials varied dramatically with different water-changing protocols. The large discrepancy between fluoride released from disks compared with that released from bracketed teeth suggests that caution must be used in extrapolating fluoride-release levels of adhesive disks to in vivo treatment conditions.