Properties of New Glass-Ionomer Restorative Systems Marketed for Stress-Bearing Areas.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the properties (fracture toughness, surface hardness) of newer conventional glass-ionomer restorative materials that are marketed for posterior stress-bearing areas compared with more traditional glass-ionomer restorative materials marketed for non-load-bearing areas and composite-resin restorative materials.

Methods And Materials: Notched-beam fracture toughness specimens were created in a mold with each tested material (Equia Forte, GC America, with and without a surface coating of Equia Forte Coat; Ketac Universal, 3M/ESPE; ChemFil Rock, Dentsply; Fuji IX GP Extra, GC; Ionostar Molar, VOCO; Filtek Z250, 3M/ESPE; Filtek Supreme Ultra, 3M/ESPE) and fractured using a universal testing machine after 24 hours of storage. Hardness values were determined on the surface of the fracture toughness specimens using a hardness tester. Data were analyzed with a one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test per property (alpha=0.05).

Results: The composite-resin restorative materials had significantly greater fracture toughness than the glass-ionomer materials. There was no significant difference in fracture toughness between the glass-ionomer materials. The use of a resin coating significantly increased the surface hardness of the newer glass ionomer marketed for stress-bearing areas.

Conclusions: Fracture toughness was not improved with the newer glass-ionomer restorative materials marketed for stress-bearing areas compared to the conventional glass-ionomer materials, however a resin coating provided greater surface hardness.