title: Buffering or non-buffering; an action of pit-and-fissure sealants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the buffering capacity of glass-ionomer material in vitro. The null hypothesis tested was that there is no effect of cured glass-ionomer pit-and-fissure sealant (PFS) pastes on the environmental acidity as well as the tooth substrate.
  
  
  METHODS
  For each material, a cured PFS disk and a section of human enamel were simultaneously soaked in lactic acid solution in a conical tube, and the pH of the solution was measured daily for one week. Subsequently, the total amount of calcium leached out in solution was also measured with ICP-AES.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that the acidity of the solutions changed over time. Significant differences of calcium ion concentration in solution were observed as a result of decalcification. As the PFS products tested did not include calcium, the concentration of calcium ion released indicated acidic erosion of the tooth enamel.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The glass-ionomer countered the acid of the solution rapidly and preserved the structure of human tooth enamel.
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, Division of Oral Health Science, Graduate School of Dental Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan. Electronic address: s.kakuda@den.hokudai.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kakuda
authors.affiliation: Institute of Dentistry, Barts & The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sharanbir K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Sidhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, Division of Oral Health Science, Graduate School of Dental Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: Hidehiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sano
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D002021:Buffers; D002118:Calcium / Q000737:chemistry; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry; D014070:Tooth / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D002021:Buffers; D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D003188:Composite Resins; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants; C015897:glass ionomer; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Acidity; Buffering; Decalcification; Neutralization; Pit and fissure sealing system; pH