• Carrilho, E.
• Paula, A.
• Moreira, F.
• Tomaz, J.
• Marques, S.

Abstract

he purpose of this article was to review the fluoride release and recharge capabilities, and antibacterial properties, of fluoride-releasing dental restoratives, and discuss the current status concerning the prevention or inhibition of caries development and progression. Fluoride-containing dental materials reported in literature are glass-ionomer cements, resin-modified glass-ionomer cements, polyacid-modified composites ("compomers"), fluoride-releasing composites and fluoride-releasing amalgams. Therefore, original scientific papers and reviews listed in PubMed were included in the review. Fluoride-containing dental materials show clear differences in the fluoride release and uptake characteristics. Clinical studies exhibited conflicting data as to whether or not these materials significantly prevent or inhibit secondary caries. Fluoride-releasing materials, predominantly glassionomers and compomers, did show cariostatic properties and may affect bacterial metabolism under simulated cariogenic conditions in vitro. However, it is not proven by prospective clinical studies whether the incidence of secondary caries can be significantly reduced by the fluoride release of restorative materials.

Topics

• impedance spectroscopy
• glass
• glass
• composite
• cement
• resin