ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to measure the release of fluoride and strontium ions from bioactive materials known as phosphate glasses in low pH conditions and hence assessing the cariostatic potential of these materials in the oral cavity preventing demineralization of enamel and probably enhancing the process of remineralization of enamel. For this study six bioactive Phosphate glasses of variable compositions containing Phosphate, Calcium, Sodium, Fluoride and Strontium ions were made for this study. Each powder mixture was melted in a platinum crucible at 1150°C and was quenched between stainless-steel plates to produce glasses. The glasses were milled into a powder. Demineralizing solution containing 0.1 M of acetic acid having a pH of 4.0 was prepared. 75 grams of each glass powder was immersed into 50 ml of the demineralization solution and kept in an incubator at 37°C shaking at a constant pace for different time points. After every time point, the solution was checked for precipitates and was filtered out. The filtered solution was sent for Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy for measurement of Strontium ion release, and Fluoride Ion Selective Electrode for the measurement of Fluoride release 0.17ppm of fluoride was released out of the maximum predicted release of 28 ppm which counts to 1.2% of the total release as measured by the fluoride electrode; along with 7.4 ppm of strontium out of the maximum predicted release of 32 ppm which counts to 23% of the total release as measured by ICP. Maximum release was from glasses incorporated with both strontium and fluoride in the same glass exhibiting synergism