Fluoride release from glass ionomer cement in vivo and in vitro

The aims of this study were to investigate in vivo the release of fluoride from three glass ionomer cements (GICs) Vitrebond, Ketac-Fil and ChemFil II into the saliva of preschool children for a 1-year period and also to study in vitro the release-absorption-release of fluoride from the same GICs for 16 weeks. In the first part of the study, glass ionomer restorations were placed in primary teeth in preschool children. Unstimulated saliva was collected and the fluoride in the saliva was measured before placement of the restorations, immediately after, after 3 weeks, after 6 weeks, and after 1 year. In the second part of the study, test specimens of GICs were placed in deionized water and the release of fluoride was measured weekly for 16 weeks. At week 12, samples were exposed to fluoride toothpaste. The concentration of fluoride in saliva was 0.04 ppm before placement of the restorations. After three weeks it had increased to 0.8 ppm and the level remained as high as 0.3 ppm even after 1 year. In the laboratory study the tested glass ionomer cements showed a capacity to absorb fluoride from the fluoride toothpaste and then release it. It is concluded that glass ionomer cement can act as a rechargeable slow release fluoride device.