Relationship between fluoride release rate and anti-cariogenic biofilm activity of glass ionomer cements

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate acidogenicity and composition of Streptococcus mutans biofilms on glass ionomer cements (GICs) and then to determine the relationship between the anti-S. mutans biofilm activity and fluoride release rate of the GICs. Methods S. mutans biofilms were formed on discs prepared using five commercial GICs. Acid production and fluoride release rates of the biofilms on the GIC discs during biofilm formation (0-94 h) were determined. Next, 94-h-old S. mutans biofilms on GIC discs were analyzed to evaluate the biofilm composition (dry weight, bacterial cell number, and extra-cellular polysaccharide (EPS) amount) using microbiological, biochemical, and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) methods. Lastly, relationships between the fluoride release rate and changes in acidogenicity and composition of the biofilms were determined using a linear-fitting procedure. Results All of the tested GICs released fluoride ions. Of the GICs, the two that showed the highest fluoride release rates strongly affected acidogenicity, dry weight, and EPS formation of the biofilms. Furthermore, they reduced the bacterial and EPS bio-volumes and EPS thickness. However, the number of colony forming units (CFUs) of the biofilms was higher than that of the control. Generally, changes in the acidogenicity and composition (except for CFU count) of the biofilms on the GICs followed a negative linear-pattern of fluoride release rate-dependence (R = -0.850 to -0.995, R² = 0.723-0.990). Significance These results suggest that the anti-cariogenic biofilm activity of GICs is closely correlated with their fluoride release rate during biofilm formation.