ENAMEL FLUORIDE UPTAKE FROM A FLUORIDE-RELEASING SEALANT

Purpose: To evaluate the enamel fluoride uptake from a fluoride releas ing pit and fissure sealant (Teethmate F). Materials and Methods: 16 m axillary first premolars of young patients (10-12 years old), which we re extracted for orthodontic reasons, were used. The children lived in non-fluoridated areas. Eight teeth were sealed with Concise White Sea lant and eight teeth with Teethmate P. Additionally, one maxillary fir st premolar was sealed in vivo with Teethmate F and extracted for orth odontic reasons 1 year after sealing its pits and fissures. Electron p robe microanalysis was used for the area analysis of the fluoride upta ke. Results: Teeth sealed with Concise White Sealant revealed no fluor ide uptake while all teeth sealed with Teethmate F revealed high amoun ts of fluoride uptake to a depth ranging from 10-20 mu m from the surf ace. The premolar extracted 1 year after sealing with Teethmate F show ed a similar fluoride uptake distribution in the enamel surface layer as the samples prepared in vitro with the same sealant. The residual f luoride was also observed within the sealing material.