The effect of home-use fluoride gels on glass-ionomer, compomer and composite resin restorations.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the resistance to dissolution by two home-use fluoride gels on the surface integrity of glass-ionomer, resin modified glass-ionomer, compomer and composite resin restorations. Class V cavities prepared in extracted teeth were restored with a glass-ionomer (Fuji II), a resin modified glass-ionomer (Vitremenr), two compomers (Dyract and F-2000) and a composite resin (Z-100). Groups of five specimens of each material were treated for 24 h with one of the following: (i). distilled water, (ii). neutral fluoride gel and (iii). acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF) gel. Surface degradation of the restorations was studied using standard electron microscopy (SEM), rated according to specific criteria and statistically analysed by the Wilcoxon test (rank sums). Acidulated phosphate fluoride was found to have a significant effect on all examined materials, while minimal effects resulted from the neutral fluoride gel compared with the control group. The effect of home-use fluoride gels on glass-ionomer, compomer and composite resin restorations.