Abstract
It is thought that various factors are related to the fluorine (F) release from glass-ionomer cement (GIG). However, the effect of abrasion on the F release from GIG has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to elu cidate the relationship between toothbrush abrasion and the F release from GIG. The F release from two kinds of GIG was measured during and after an abrasion test. This test was done using the toothbrush abrasion apparatus, newly developed in our laboratory, with a brushing load of 500g and 10,000 brushing strokes. The following results were obtained.
1. The F release from GIG increased during the abrasion test.
2. The F release from the abrased surface of GIG increased after the abrasion test.
3. SEM observations of the brushed surfaces of the sample indicated the appearance of inner bubbles and the loss of cores. The increase of the F release from GIG after the abrasion test was thought to be connected to the appearance of the newly abraded surface and the abraded surface roughness.
