Dental Health Imaging, Jobs, Education & Resources

A recent study published in Prilozi (2011, 32(1):283-94;http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21822195) suggests that fluoride-releasing conventional glass ionomer, resin modified glass-ionomer, compomer and glass ionomer cement restorations help to reduce secondary caries in permanent immature and deciduous teeth.

The study, authored by E Giogievska of the Paediatric and Preventative Department of the SsCyril and Methodius University of Skopje, Macedonia, involved the placement of 270 restorations (135 in deciduous teeth) evaluated per criteria established by Ryge after one, six, 12, and 18 months.

The author notes that for the most part, the placed restorations ‘gave excellent results’. Dyract AP and Unifil Flow were considered excellent after 18 months in 93.3% of the cases. However Fuji IX restorations had a low retention rate, primarily with deciduous teeth with this finding attributed to poor oral hygiene habits of participants. There was also some dissatisfaction with color mismatching of the restorations and bad marginal adaptation.

It is reported that preconditioning of teeth prior to restoration placement improved the outcome. The full report is available online but is not printed in English. Results of the study are said to underscore the fact that fluoride-releasing dental materials are “a revolution in the treatment of tooth decay, especially in children” do to “their ability to reduce secondary and recurrent caries levels and the simplified application”

This study contributes to the literature supporting the use of fluoride-releasing dental restorative materials including conventional glass ionomer, resin modified glass-ionomer, compomer and glass ionomer cement restorations in terms of reducing secondary caries.

Submitted by Jeff Burgess DDS MSD, Editor in Chief