Clinical performance of fluoride-releasing dental restoratives

The purpose of the this study was to evaluate the performance of several different fluoride-releasing restoratives placed on deciduous and immature permanent teeth in respect of time; and additionally to compare the effect of conditioning prior to their placement.

A total of 270 restorations--restored with one conventional glass-ionomer cement, one resin-modified glass-ionomer cement, one compomer and one fluoride-releasing glass-ionomer cement (135 placed on deciduous and 135 on permanent immature teeth)--were evaluated. The fillings were analysed after 1 month, 6, 12 and 18 months, by the criteria for evaluation of the dental clinical materials given by Ryge.

Restorations mostly gave excellent results, especially those placed on permanent immature teeth. Actually, Dyract AP and Unifil Flow were marked (A) after 18 months in 93.3% of the cases. Fuji IX restorations had the lowest retention rate, especially on deciduous teeth, due mostly to bad oral hygiene habits. Dissatisfaction with the tested criteria was, above all, because of the bad marginal adaptation and the colour dismatch of the restorations. Conditioning prior to the application of the restoratives was beneficial.

Fluoride-releasing materials are a revolution in the treatment of tooth decay, especially in children. This is mostly due to their ability to reduce seconddary and recurrent caries levels and the simplified application.