IN-VIVO RESPONSE OF IONOMERIC CEMENTS - EFFECT OF GLASS COMPOSITION, INCREASING SODA OR CALCIUM-FLUORIDE CONTENT

The in vivo response of two defined groups of set ionomeric cements (I Cs), were evaluated following implantation in the midshaft of three we ek old Wistar rat femora for four weeks. New bone formation was associ ated with all the IC implants, the amount of new bone increasing with increasing sodium or calcium fluoride content of the basic glass compo nent. Previous work has shown that there is a link between glass compo sition and ion release, fluoride ion release increasing as the sodium or fluoride content of the glass increases. It thus appears that in th e series studied improved bone formation associated with the ICs was m ediated by increased fluoride ion release.