In vitro dentin demineralization inhibition effects of an experimental fluoridated HEMA and water wetting agent

The ability of fluoride-releasing resins to inhibit dentin demineralization remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the carie s inhibition of resin composite restorations with an experimental fluoridat ed hydroxyethyl methyl methacrylate (HEMA) and water wetting agent. Standar dized Class V preparations were placed in 40 molars, the gingival margin pl aced below the cementoenamel junction. Two dentin primers (sodium fluoride, HEMA and water; HEMA and water) were placed in equal numbers of 20 prepara tions, then One-Step(R) Dental Adhesive (Bisco) was applied as recommended by the manufacturer, followed by the placement of a resin composite restora tion. Amalgam restorations with no primer/adhesive were placed in 10 prepar ations and 10 preparations were restored by placing One-Step(R) Dental Adhe sive, then resin composite. All teeth were subjected to an artificial carie s challenge (pH 4.4) for 5 days. Results demonstrated the mean areas (mu m( 2) +/- s.d.) of demineralization 100 mu m from the restoration/dentin margi n to be: amalgam 5570 +/- 873; One-Step(R) 7038 +/- 2099; HEMA and water 61 26 +/- 634; fluoridated HEMA and water 3411 +/- 593. ANOVA and Duncan's tes t (P < 0.05) demonstrated the fluoridated BEMA and water wetting agent to h ave significantly less adjacent dentin demineralization than the other thre e groups. Eighty percent of HEMA and water wetting agent, 80% of One-Step(R ) Dental Adhesive and 100% of amalgam restorations demonstrated wall lesion s. One hundred percent of restorations with fluoridated HEMA and water wett ing agent demonstrated inhibition zones in adjacent dentin.