Prosthodontics & Occlusion · patient case question
Which restorative material releases the greatest amount of fluoride?
Patient case: Restoring a broken-down tooth
demo: 45-year-old female
chief: Wants to restore a heavily broken lower molar and to improve the appearance of her upper front teeth.
history: Nothing relevant medically. She has had a crown placed on tooth 12 elsewhere.
meds: None.
findings: Tooth 30 has minimal remaining coronal structure with 0.5 mm of sound dentin above the crown margin circumferentially. An impression and a working cast from the first attempt show voids at the margin and a torn finish line. The crown on tooth 12 is markedly brighter than the adjacent very yellow natural teeth.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Conventional glass ionomer
- A. Correct. Conventional glass ionomer releases the most fluoride, with a large initial burst followed by sustained release, and it recharges from topical fluoride exposure. This is why it is chosen for high caries risk patients, root surface lesions and atraumatic restorative treatment.
- B. Resin-modified glass ionomer releases substantial fluoride but less than the conventional material, trading some release for improved strength and esthetics.
- C. Fluoride-containing composites release the least, at levels of doubtful clinical significance.
- D. Compomers release considerably less than either glass ionomer.
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