Objectives of the study were to compare the capacity of fluoride releasing materials to inhibit in vitro caries formation and to measure the width and height of the inhibition zones. Box-shaped cavities were prepared on bovine root dentine and restored with Fuji II, Fuji II LC. Vitremer, or Clearfil Liner Bond II system with a fluoride releasing composite. After immersion in a buffered demineralizing solution of 50 mmol/L acetic acid adjusted to pH 4.5 for 3 days, longitudinal sections were cut and imbibed in quinoline for analysis under a polarized light microscope (PLM). The contours of the lesions and inhibition zones were traced and their depth, width and height calculated. The data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Fisher's PLSD test at 95% level of confidence. The polarized light microscopy results showed a distinct inhibition zone adjacent to both conventional and resin-modified glass ionomer cements; however, it was not observed around the adhesive resin system. The width and height of this inhibition zone were significantly greater for Fuji II than for Fuji II LC and Vitremer. An inhibition zone was not observed adjacent to the adhesive resin system with fluoride releasing composite. The resin-modified glass ionomer cements produced less protection against in vitro secondary caries formation than the conventional glass ionomer cement. The recent bonding system that releases fluoride failed to produce an inhibition zone along the cavity wall adjacent to the restoration.