Sealants with higher fluoride release and recharge capability, and additional antibacterial effect and bioactivity may have better ability to prevent primary and secondary caries. Objectives: The objective of this in vitro study is to test and compare the fluoride release and recharge capabilities of experimental antibacterial fluoride –releasing sealants and commercial fluoride-releasing sealants. Methods: Two experimental antibacterial fluoride-releasing sealants (Exp-1 and Exp-2) were formulated using a synthesized antibacterial fluoride-releasing monomer (16.13%), other dental monomers (48.87%) and fluoride-releasing filler (Caulk/Dentsply) (35%). Exp-2 also contains 15% NovaMin bioactive glass particles (GlaxoSmithKline) replacing 15% of the fluoride-releasing filler. Two commercial fluoride-releasing sealants FluroShield (FS) (Caulk/Dentsply) and Clinpro (CP) (3M-ESPE) were also included. The disk specimens (5.0 mm diameter, 1.2 mm thick, n=5) were prepared and immersed in 2.0mL deionized water at 37oC. The fluoride concentration of the solution (1.8 mL immersion solution plus 0.3 mL TISAB III) was measured daily using ion-selective electrode (Thermo-Orion 96-09) and 720 pH/ISE meter (Thermo-Orion) for 14 days with daily replenish of the solution. The specimens were then recharged with Neutra-Foam (2.0% NaF) (Oral –B) for 1 min and rinsed with running deionized water for 30s. Fluoride release from recharged samples was measured daily for 5 days and recharge was repeated three times. The data were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey's Honestly Significant Differences test.
Results: Table 1 Cumulative fluoride release in 14 day and 3days after recharge (Mean±SD)
Materials | Cumulative F release n 14 days (µg/cm2) | F release in 3days after recharge (µg/cm2) |
Exp-1 | 18.40±1.39B | 2.93±0.61b |
Exp-2 | 97.39±12.92A | 6.44±0.72a |
CP | 4.98±0.97C | 0.56±0.13c |
FS | 4.79±1.10C | 0.46±0.05c |
Groups with different superscript letters have significant difference (p<0.05)
Conclusions: the experimental antibacterial fluoride-releasing sealants have significantly higher fluoride release and recharge capabilities than commercial fluoride-releasing sealants. (Supported by NIH/NIDCR grant 5R01DE019203-03).