Aim: This in vitro investigation was to evaluate the fluoride release and recharge abilities of three recently introduced dental fissure sealants (FS).
Methods: Three dental FS were assessed: Teethmate F-1 (Kuraray), Fissurit F (Voco), BeautiSealant (Shofu), and a conventional glass ionomer cement FX-II (Shofu) as a control. Eight cylindrical specimens (7 × 2 mm) of each material were made and immersed individually in 5 ml de-ionized water in plastic containers. Fluoride release of the tested materials was evaluated during the experimental period (28 days) utilising a fluoride ion-selective electrode. At the end of the test period, the specimens were soaked for 5 min in a fluoride solution (0.05 % NaF) and fluoride release was evaluated for the next 5 days. The data were statistically analysed using one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc test and the level of significance was preset at α = 0.05.
Results: The total fluoride release over the 28-day period for each material was: FX-II (408.6 ± 45.66 μg/cm(2)) > Teethmate F-1 (89.45 ± 12.32 μg/cm(2)) > Fissurit F (68.62 ± 8.72 μg/cm(2)) > BeautiSealant (33.32 ± 4.91 μg/cm(2)), (p < 0.05). After the re-fluoridation of the specimens with 0.05 % NaF solution the cumulative fluoride re-release during the 5-day period for each material was: FX-II (99.53 ± 13.21 μg/cm(2)) > Teethmate F-1 (9.76 ± 1.62 μg/cm(2)) > BeautiSealant (5.69 ± 0.89 μg/cm(2)) > Fissurit F (4.76 ± 0.72 μg/cm(2)), (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: The three tested sealants exhibited different capabilities to release and uptake fluoride ions after re-fluoridation but significantly lower than the glass ionomer tested.
Keywords: Dental sealants; Fluoride recharge; Fluoride release; Giomer; Glass ionomer; Resin-based materials.