Lack of Etching of GIC/Porcelain by Colgate FluoroCare5000 Acidulated Gel

Objectives: Traditional 1.23% APF gels have been shown to provide a high level of fluoride uptake into enamel but have also been found to etch glass-ionomer cement (GIC) and porcelain restorations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if the new Colgate FluoroCare5000 acidulated gel had similar etching effects on glass based restorative materials. Methods: Traditional 1.23% APF gel and FluoroCare5000 gel were placed separately on 5 samples each of Fuji IX Fast (total of 40 samples) set in flat brass rings for 1, 3, 5, and 10 minutes. Gel was not applied to 5 control samples. The samples were than analysed for surface roughness using a profilometer. Selected samples were observed under the Scanning Electron Microscopy to observe differing degrees of roughness. Traditional 1.23% APF gel and FluoroCare5000 gel were similarly placed on 3 samples each of the incisal half of formed porcelain crowns (total of 24 samples) for 1, 3, 5 and 10 minutes. The cervical portions of the crowns had been painted with nail varnish to act as a control. The crowns were then examined under the SEM for roughness characteristics and a scale was used to rank the extent of etching. Results: The traditional 1.23% APF gels caused the greatest effects of etching of GIC as recorded by the profilometer, and observed under SEM roughness for both GICs and formed porcelain crowns. There was no recordable etching observed when the new FluoroCare5000 gel was applied to the same materials. Conclusion: The new FluoroCare5000 gel showed no recordable etching of GIC and porcelain when compared to traditional APF gels even at exposure times of 10 minutes, using profilometry and SEM analysis in vitro.