Effect of fluoride slow‐release glass devices on salivary and gingival crevicular fluid levels of fluoride: A pilot study

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the effect of fluoride slow‐release glass devices on the levels of fluoride in a pooled sample of human gingival crevicular fluid and in human saliva. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten healthy adult volunteers wore fluoride slow‐release glass devices for 3 months in a longitudinal experimental clinical pilot study. Whole unstimulated human saliva and gingival crevicular fluid were collected using paper points at baseline, after 2 weeks and at 3 months and analysed for their fluoride levels using ion chromatography and fluoride electrode. RESULTS: No adverse effects were reported, and the Löe Plaque and Gingival Index remained low (0.22). The saliva determination of fluoride using the fluoride electrode showed an increase after 3 months from 0.02 ± 0.04 ppm to 0.06 ± 0.12 ppm, whereas the ion chromatography showed an increase from 0.15 ± 0.10 ppm to 0.44 ± 0.36 ppm. The fluoride levels in a pooled sample of gingival crevicular fluid from four intraoral sites were determined using the ion chromatography, and the results showed that after 3 months, the fluoride levels were still low (0.71 ± 0.34 ppb) similar to those at baseline (0.74 ± 0.31 ppb). CONCLUSIONS: The fluoride concentration in a pooled sample of gingival crevicular fluid was reported to be low with a range from 0.46 to 0.75 ppb and was not changed by placement of fluoride slow‐release glass devices. The fluoride concentration in unstimulated human saliva showed an increase after 3 months when the fluoride slow‐release glass devices were attached when determined with both the fluoride electrode (from .02 ± 0.04 ppm to 0.06 ± 0.12 ppm) and ion chromatography (from 0.15 ± 0.10 ppm to 0.44 ± 0.36 ppm).