Journal of Dental Medicine

The purpose of this study was to assess the fluoride release of three fluoride- containing materials exposed to fluoride solutions. This study compared the initial fluoride release and release following re-fluoridation (neutral or acidic 2% NaF) of three different filling materials, conventional glass ionomer cement (CG1C), resin- modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC), polyacid- modified composite resin (PAMCR). Twenty discs of each material, measuring 2mm height and 6mm diameter, were suspended in separate vials of 2" laboratory artificial saliva. The amount of fluoride release was measured over two periods of 28 days each. Fluoride release was determined at 1,3,7,14 and 28 days of each period. Fluoride was measured with a fluoride ion- specific electrode and an ion analyzer previously calibrated with standard solution .T- test and ANOVA were used to evaluate the data. Fluoride release for all products at days 1 and 3 was significantly greater than the rest of the time intervals. Then, the fluoride release decreased significantly. CGIC released significantly more fluoride than the other products. This was followed by RMGIC, which exhibited significantly more fluoride release than PAMCR. In second period of experiment, the specimens were assigned to two subgroups often each. The samples exposed to two different solution of NaF (neutral or acidic). All groups showed the capacity of re-fluoridation and fluoride uptake. The specimens exposed to acidic NaF solution showed statistically more significant rechargeability than the neutral NaF solution. It may be concluded that glass ionomer cements act as a rechargeable slow fluoride release systems and as an effective caries preventive material in caries preventing programs for caries susceptible children.

  Background and Aims: Application of fluoride products is known as one of the most successful interventions to prevent dental caries. This study aimed to compare the costs of in-office fluoride therapy versus salt fluoridation in Iranian population.

  Materials and Methods: In this study, the costs relating to the use of in-office fluoride therapy were analyzed using Activity Based Costing during 2011 from two perspectives. From the perspective of service provider, direct medical costs and indirect costs and from the view of service recipient, three parts: direct medical and non-medical costs and indirect costs, were considered. Costing for public consumption of salt fluoridation was estimated based on salt processing costs, including purchase, installation, monitoring, maintenance and repair of machinery, equipment, personnel expenses and cost of raw materials, used in this study.

  Results: Costs relating to performing a single in-office fluoride therapy was estimated to be 245,032 Rials from the perspective of service providers, and 239,600 Rials from the patient view. Estimated total cost to produce fluoridated salt for a unit of 10 million populations, was calculated to be 35 billion and 940 million Rials or 3, 594 Rials per person per year.

  Conclusion: It was concluded that per-capita costs of community based salt fluoridation was far less than in-office fluoride therapy. Salt fluoridation could be advised to be an affordable way to prevent dental caries in Iranian population.