Anticariogenic potential of fluoride from glass ionomer and dentifrice combination

“Objectives:”, To evaluate the anticariogenic potential of fresh and aged glass ionomer restoration, in combination with fluoride dentifrice use. “Methods:”, A 6-phase crossover, double-blind design was used and in each phase ten volunteers wore palatal appliances containing four enamel blocks, covered with a ‘test plaque' of S mutans, and restored with one of the following materials: composite resin (Z250) (negative control) a resin-modified Glass Ionomer fresh (Fresh-Vitremer) or aged restoration (Aged-Vitremer) . The Aged-Vitremer group was submitted to a 14-day aging process under continuous flow (0.5 mL/min) of artificial saliva. The palatal appliances were immersed for 1 min in a slurry (1:3) of a non-F dentifrice (PD) or F-dentifrice (FD – 1100 µg/g as NaF, named Tandy). The volunteers wore the appliances for 30 min and the pH of the ‘test plaque' was determined (baseline). Five minutes after a cariogenic challenge with 20 % sucrose solution, the pH was again determined. After further 45 min, the test plaque was collected and its fluid was collected for fluoride (F) analysis. “Results:”, The interaction between restorative material*dentifrice for baseline pH was not statistically significant (p>0.05), but pH drop after the cariogenic challenge was greater for Z250 and Aged-Vitremer, when PD dentifrice was used (p<0.05). The interaction between material*dentifrice for F in “test plaque” fluid was significant (p<0.05); when PD was used the aged material differed from the fresh at p=0.07, but when FD was used they did not differ statistically (p=0.80). “Conclusions:”,The results suggest that the daily use of F-dentifrice may compensate the aging effect on glass ionomer fluoride releasing. (Supported by FAPESP, Proc. 05/51554-0)