Wa. Wiltshire, DETERMINATION OF FLUORIDE FROM FLUORIDE-RELEASING ELASTOMERIC LIGATURE TIES, American journal of orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics, 110(4), 1996, pp. 383-387
Unesthetic white spot lesions or larger unsightly areas of decalcifica
tion around orthodontic brackets remain a significant problem during f
ixed appliance treatment. This study determined the in vitro fluoride
release from 200 fluoride-containing elastomeric ligature ties. With t
he potentiometric analytic method, the fluoride release was determined
in distilled water, for 10 groups of 20 elastomerics, representing th
e clinical usage in a patient. Readings were taken every 24 hours for
5 days and then every second week for 6 months. The data were analyzed
with the Wilcoxon matched pairs signed ranks test. Fluor-l-Ties (Orth
o Arch Company Inc., Hoffman Estates, III.) released significant amoun
ts of fluoride compared with the control readings. The fluoride releas
e was characterized by an initial burst of fluoride during the first d
ay and second day, followed by a logarithmic decrease. By the end of t
he second week 88% of the total fluoride had been leached from the ela
stomerics, but adequate magnitudes of fluoride were released over the
remainder of the test period to aid theoretically in the prevention of
demineralization and enhance remineralization of enamel through calci
um fluoride and fluorapatite formation. For optimum clinical benefit,
Fluor-l-Ties should be replaced monthly. Future prospective longitudin
al clinical studies are indicated.