LONG-TERM FLUORIDE RELEASE OF VISIBLE LIGHT-ACTIVATED COMPOSITES INVITRO - A CORRELATION WITH INSITU DEMINERALIZATION DATA

Fluoridated composites are able to reduce or inhibit secondary caries around fillings. The aims of this study were firstly to investigate th e amount of F released in vitro from composites with a F content betwe en 0 and 26 vol% as a function of time over a 1-year period. A second aim was to correlate the in vitro data on F release with enamel demine ralisation data in situ after a 1-month period. The results show that all fluoridated composites release sizable amounts of F in solution, t he total amounts of F released from three composites were proportional to log t over at least 1 year. In one case proportionality of the tot al amount of F released with t was observed. Possible mechanisms of F release are considered. The results presented also show a linear relat ion between the log of in vitro F release data and the effects on enam el demineralisation in situ next to the composite. Extrapolation of th e data reveals that a F release of about 200-300 mug/CM2 over a 1-mont h period from a fluoridated composite would completely inhibit seconda ry caries under plaque conditions.