Glass ionomer cements (GICs) demonstrate the inhibition of caries lesions formed immediately adjacent to the restoration. This in vitro study was conducted to evaluate the distance at which a resin-modified GIC is able to exert its cariostatic effect on artificial enamel lesions ('remote effect'). Resin-modified GIC or bis-GMA resin was applied on the cervical third of the labial surface of 10 paired halves of bovine incisors. Specimens were separately immersed for 3 weeks in lactic acid gel which was changed every other day to reduce fluoride accumulation. Artificial lesions were examined by the cross-sectional microhardness (MHN) method. Volume percent mineral, mineral loss (delta Z value) and change in mineral content (delta M) were computed for each MHN profile, performed at distances of 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 and 7.0 mm from the edge of the materials. delta Z values of the resin-modified GIC group were significantly lower than those of the bis-GMA control group at all remote sites (t test, p < 0.05). The delta M caused by resin-modified GIC was more pronounced within 1.0 mm from the material which suggested that the demineralization inhibition can be divided into the near effect (< 1.0 mm). In this in vitro study, resin-modified GIC provided caries resistance in bovine enamel located at a considerable distance from the margin of the material.