Machanical performance of encapsulated restorative glass ionomer cements for use with atraumatic restorative treatment (ART)

Abstract

The Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) approach was suggested to be a suitable method to treat enamel and dentine carious lesions in patients with disabilities. The use of a restorative glass-ionomer with optimal mechanical properties is, therefore, very important. Objective: To test the null-hypotheses that no difference in diametral tensile, compressive and flexural strengths exits between: (1) The EQUIA system and (2) The Chemfil Rock (encapsulated glass-ionomers; control materials); (3) ) The EQUIA system and Chemfil Rock. Materials and Methods: Specimens for testing flexural (n=240) and diametral tensile (n=80) strengths prepared according to standardized specifications; the compressive strength (n=80) was measured using a tooth-model of a class II ART restoration. ANOVA and Tukey B tests were used to test for significant differences between dependent and independent variables. Results: The EQUIA system and Chemfil Rock had significantly higher mean scores for all the three strength variables than the Fuji 9 Gold Label and Ketac Molar Easymix (α=0.05). The EQUIA system had significant higher mean scores for diametral tensile and flexural strengths than the Chemfil Rock(α=0.05). Conclusion: The two encapsuled hight-viscosity glass-ionomers had significantly higher test values for diametral tensile, flexural and compressive strengths than the commonly used hand-mixed high-viscosity glass-ionomers.