Rationale for placing topical fluoride inside cavity preparations: a review

Abstract

Recurrent caries, around dental restorations, has been a major problem facing dental practitioners. In 1949, Healey and Phillips1 found that 53% of amalgam failure was directly due to recurrent dental caries. Although Richardson et al2 reported a smaller percentage in 1973, 23% of all amalgam restorations were replaced because of secondary caries. This percentage increased to 54% when new caries were included. In a recent survey in 1987, Klausner and associates3 found that 54% of 5511 restorations placed by 191 dentists were replacement restorations. Of these replacements, 53% were replaced because of recurrent caries.