Release of fluoride from conventional and metal-reinforced glass-ionomer cements

Fluoride was extracted by 1 or 50 ml deionized water from 0.3 ml samples of two conventional and three metal-reinforced glass-ionomer cements. The fluoride concentration was determined by electrode. It was found that the fluoride concentration around the glass-ionomer cements ranged 2-3 ppm after 15 min and 3-5 ppm after 45 min. The maximum fluoride concentration attained within 24 h varied from 15-21 ppm, while the total amount of fluoride released during 100 days varied from about 2 mg fluoride to 12 mg fluoride per ml glass-ionomer cement. An alloy reinforced cement and its conventional counterpart released the highest amount of fluoride whereas a glass-cermet type released the lowest amount. Within the premises of this study it was concluded that composition and handling of the cements are of importance for the release of fluoride, and that a caries inhibitory fluoride concentration can be established in the surroundings of all of the cements.