Influence of pH and oxygen-inhibited layer on fluoride release properties of fluoride sealant.

This study tested the hypothesis that the oxygen-inhibited layer on a light-cured methacrylate based resin and the pH of the storage medium would increase significantly the initial fluoride release and long-term release rate from fluoride dental sealant. Forty-eight discs (16-mm diameter x 1-mm thick) were made from FluroShield (<5 wt% NaF) and Helioseal F (<30 wt% fluorosilicate glass) sealants. For each sealant, 24 discs were cured through a Mylar strip that covered the surface and the remaining 24 discs were cured in air allowing formation of the oxygen-inhibited surface. Each specimen in the 24-disc groups was stored individually in 25-mL vials, and divided into four six-vial groups to receive 10 mL of pH4-pH7 (designation of pH 4-7) lactate buffer solutions. The buffer solutions were replaced periodically up to 121 days. The cumulative fluoride release over time was used to determine the coefficients for short-term and long-term release. Two-way ANOVA showed that the mean coefficient values for either sealant were significantly influenced by the curing condition (p<0.0001) and pH (p<0.0001), except for short-term release from NaF sealant. The duration of short-term release was much longer for the fluorosilicate glass sealant. Both pH and the source of fluoride source incorporated in the sealant play significant roles in fluoride release.