The Influence of Fluoride-releasing Bonding Composites in the Development of Artificial White Spot Lesions. An Ex Vivo Study

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of fluoride-releasing bonding composites on the development of artificially created white spot lesions ex vivo. The severity of the lesions was estimated visually using the von der Fehr Caries Index. The integrated mineral loss of the lesions (Δz) was measured using micro-radiography/microdensitometry. The results of the visual assessment indicated that teeth bonded with Reliance® exhibited more Grade 2 lesions than expected. Teeth bonded with Mirage Dual Cure®, however, showed a high prevalence of teeth with no lesions (Grade 0) and few with Grade 2. Microdensitometric analysis found 17 subsurface lesions; 14 of these were in the non-fluoridated groups (Right-On® and Heliosit®), and 3 and 1 in the fluoridated groups (Reliance® and Mirage Dual Cure®), respectively. Lesion mineral content ranged from 64·93 to 20·43 per cent for Right-On®, from 32·53 to 26·72 per cent for Heliosit®, from 19·52 to 19·58 per cent for Reliance®, and 23·58 per cent for Mirage Dual Cure®. The results of this study suggest that fluoride-releasing composites may have a caries preventive effect around orthodontic brackets.