Extent of the cariostatic effect on root dentin provided by fluoride-containing restorative materials

This study evaluated the extent of the cariostatic effect on root dentin provided by four fluoride-containing restorative systems: Ketac-Fil/ESPE [Ke], Fuji II LC Improved/GC Corp [Fj], Dyract AP/Dentsply [Dy] and SureFil/Dentsply [Su], and one without fluoride: Z250/3M [control]. Ninety-five bovine root dentin fragments (5.0 x 6.0 mm) were obtained, embedded in polyester resin and planed. Cavities (1.5 x 3.5 x 1.0 mm) were made and restored by the five restorative systems (n=19) in a randomized complete block design according to the manufacturers' instructions. After 24 hours, the dentin/restoration surface was polished. The restoration surface and an adjacent area of 3.0 x 3.0 mm were demarcated and submitted to a pH-cycling model. Dentin surface Knoop microhardness values were obtained (5.0-g, 5.0-s) for 10 distances: 50, 100, 150, 300, 600, 900, 1200, 1500, 1800 and 2100 microm from the margin of the restoration. The dentin microhardness means for each restorative material at each distance was considered by the ANOVA multi-factor split-plot method. The interaction between the restorative system and distance was statistically significant (p<0.05). The Tukey test and the regression analysis showed that the means of [Ke] and [Fj] were similar up to 300 microm, the [Ke] means being higher than the [control] at distances 50, 100, 150 and 300 microm. The [Fj] means were higher than the [control] at distances 50, 100 and 150 microm. The microhardness means of [Dy] and [Su] were not statistically different from the [control] and remained steady throughout the studied distances. This study concluded that the extent of the cariostatic effect on root dentin was 300 microm for [Ke] and 150 microm for [Fj]. [Dy] and [Su] did not show any cariostatic effect.