Enamel fluoride uptake from a fluoride releasing sealant

Purpose: To evaluate the enamel fluoride uptake from a fluoride releasing pit and fissure sealant (Teethmate F). Materials and Methods: 16 maxillary first premolars of young patients (10-12 years old), which were extracted for orthodontic reasons, were used. The children lived in non-fluoridated areas. Eight teeth were sealed with Concise White Sealant and eight teeth with Teethmate P. Additionally, one maxillary first premolar was sealed in vivo with Teethmate F and extracted for orthodontic reasons 1 year after sealing its pits and fissures. Electron probe microanalysis was used for the area analysis of the fluoride uptake. Results: Teeth sealed with Concise White Sealant revealed no fluoride uptake while all teeth sealed with Teethmate F revealed high amounts of fluoride uptake to a depth ranging from 10-20 mu m from the surface. The premolar extracted 1 year after sealing with Teethmate F showed a similar fluoride uptake distribution in the enamel surface layer as the samples prepared in vitro with the same sealant. The residual fluoride was also observed within the sealing material.