FLUORIDE AND MUTANS STREPTOCOCCI LEVELS IN PLAQUE ON AGED RESTORATIONS OF RESIN-MODIFIED GLASS-IONOMER CEMENT, COMPOMER AND RESIN COMPOSITE

The use of fluoride-releasing restoratives such as glass ionomer cemen ts (GICs) has increased during the last decade. The antibacterial effe ct of released fluoride is thought to be a possible caries-preventive effect of these restorations. In this study fluoride concentrations in plaque on I-year old resin-modified GIG, compomer and resin composite restorations were compared intraindividually and related to the occur rence of caries-associated bacteria. Plaque from class III restoration s of the three restorative materials and from a proximal enamel surfac e in is individuals was analysed. Low fluoride levels were detected in all the samples, while the resin-modified GIC samples showed signific antly higher amounts. The distribution of oral streptococci, mutans st reptococci and lactobacilli did not differ significantly among the sur faces and did not correlate to the fluoride levels in the samples. A g ood correlation was found between the counts of mutans streptococci in saliva and their proportions in the plaque. The results indicate that the fluoride concentrations released in vivo from 1-year-old restorat ives are not high enough to affect the plaque levels of the caries-ass ociated bacteria mutans streptococci and lactobacilli.