Effect of a Fluoride-Containing Resin on Dentine Demineralization in Situ

One of the major advantages of fluoride (F)-containing bonding materials is the possibility to release F to the surrounding tooth structure and thereby inhibit secondary caries. Objectives: The aim of the present investigation was to study the caries-preventive effect of a new F-containing bonding material (Super-Bond® F; Sun Medical Co, Shiga, Japan) in an experimental in situ model. Materials and methods: Fifteen edentulous volunteers with a mean age of 70 yrs participated. The subjects had 2+2 dentine specimens mounted in their dentures in two holders. The samples were embedded in the bonding material Super- Bond® F or Super-Bond®; randomly distributed on the left and right side. The subjects used the dentures day and night for eight weeks. After removal, the dentine specimens were analysed for mineral change using transversal microradiography (TMR), lesion depth (ld, µm) and mineral loss (Dz, vol% x µm) were calculated. Plaque collected from the specimens prior to removal was analyzed regarding number of mutans streptococci in relation to total number of microorganisms (%). Results: The F-containing bonding material resulted in significantly lower degree of demineralization compared to the non-F-containing material, both with respect to lesion depth (p<0.001) and mineral loss (p<0.001). The mean (± SD) difference between the two materials was for lesion depth 151 ± 105 µm and for mineral loss 4383 ± 4303 vol% x µm. The number of mutans streptococci was more or less the same from the specimens mounted with the F- and the non-F-material (ns). Conclusion: The new F-containing bonding material, Super- Bond® F, seems to inhibit demineralization of dentine considerably compared to the conventional F-free material in this in situ model.