Purpose: To quantitatively analyze in vitro the fluoride release from proximal VariGlass restorations and resulting uptake by the enamel of adjacent teeth.
Materials and methods: Sixty impacted third molars were used and assigned to three groups: C: control, teeth without restorations; RC: teeth with resin composite restorations (Prisma APH); and PMRC: teeth with polyacid-modified resin composite restorations (VariGlass). Each group consisted of four sets of five teeth each. In the latter two sets, by alternating restored and unrestored teeth, the proximal surfaces of three unrestored teeth with an area of exposed enamel were in contact with the restored proximal surfaces of two other teeth. The sets were submitted to high caries challenge conditions with demineralizing and remineralizing solutions for 14 days. The fluoride of each solution and the fluoride uptake were determined and statistical analyses were carried out (ANOVA and Tukey's test).
Results: The highest mean fluoride concentration occurred with Group PMRC in both kinds of solutions (P < 0.01), but this value was higher in the demineralizing solution (P < 0.01). Over the 14 days, however, this mean gradually decreased in both solutions (P < 0.01). Group PMRC also showed the highest mean fluoride uptake (P < 0.01), which gradually decreased with depth in the enamel (P < 0.01).