OBJECTIVES: Production of acids such as lactic acid contributes to establish a cariogenic environment that leads to dental substrate demineralization. Fluoride plays an important role in this case and, as fluoride-releasing materials, glass-ionomer cements are expected to contribute to minimize deleterious reactions. This study evaluated interactions of glass-ionomer cements used in atraumatic restorative treatment (ART-GICs) with an aqueous lactic acid solution, testing the null hypotheses that no changes occur in the pH of the solution or on the surface roughness and mass of the ART-GICs when exposed to lactic acid solution over a 6-week period. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ketac Molar, Fuji IX, Vitro Molar and Magic Glass were tested, and compared to Filtek Z250 and Ketac Fil Plus as control groups. Six specimens of each material were made according to manufacturers' instructions. The pH of the solution and roughness and mass changes of each specimen were determined over 6 weeks. Each specimen was individually stored in 2 mL of 0.02 M lactic acid solution for 1 week, renewing the solution every week. pH of solution and mass of the specimens were monitored weekly, and surface roughness of the specimens was assessed before and at the end of the 6-week acid challenge. pH and mass data were analyzed statistically by repeated measures using one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc tests for each material. Paired t-tests were used for roughness analysis. Tukey's post-hoc tests were applied to verify differences of final roughness among the materials. Significance level was set at 5%. RESULTS: The null hypotheses were partially rejected. All materials were able to increase the pH of the lactic acid solution and presented rougher surfaces after immersion, while mass change was minimal and generally not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: These findings can be helpful to predict the performance of these materials under clinical conditions. A protective action against the carious process with significant surface damage due to erosion may be expected.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the microhardness of resin-modified glass-ionomer cements (RMGICs) photoactivated with a blue light-emitting diode (LED) curing light. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty specimens were distributed in 3 groups: Fuji II LC Improved/GC (RM1), Vitremer/3M ESPE (RM2) and Filtek Z250/ 3M ESPE (RM3). Two commercial light-curing units were used to polymerize the materials: LED/Ultrablue IS and a halogen light/XL3000 (QTH). After 24 h, Knoop microhardness test was performed. Data were submitted to three-way ANOVA and Tukey's test at a pre-set alpha of 0.05. RESULTS: At the top surface, no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) in the microhardness was seen when the LED and QTH lights were used for all materials. At the bottom surface, microhardness mean value of RM2 was significantly higher when the QTH light was used (p<0.05). For RM1, statistically significant higher values (p<0.05) were seen when the LED light was used. No statistically significant difference (p>0.05) was seen at the bottom surface for RM3, irrespective of the light used. Top-to-bottom surface comparison showed no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) for both RMGICs, regardless of the light used. For RM3, microhardness mean value at the top was significantly higher (p<0.05) than bottom microhardness when both curing units were used. CONCLUSION: The microhardness values seen when a LED light was used varied depending on the restorative material tested.

A tecnologia baseada em Diodos emissores de luz (LED) tem sido utilizada para a fotoativação de resinas compostas e existe um grande número de estudos publicados a este respeito. Entretanto, não existem estudos envolvendo cimentos de ionômero de vidro modificados por resina (CIVMR), que também necessitam fotoativação. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi o de avaliar a sorção de água de dois CIVMR fotoativados com LED e comparar essa propriedade com aquela obtida com unidade com lâmpada halógena. Uma resina composta foi utilizada como controle. Cinco espécimes com 15,0 mm diâmetro x 1,0 mm de altura foram preparados para cada combinação de material (Fuji II LC Improved, Vitremer e Filtek Z250) e fonte de luz (Radii e Optilight Plus) e transferidos a dessecadores até a obtenção de massa constante. Em seguida, os espécimes foram imersos em água deionizada por 7 dias, pesados e recondicionados a uma massa constante em dessecadores. A sorção de água foi calculada com base no peso e no volume dos espécimes. Os dados foram analisados por ANOVA a dois critérios e teste de Tukey (p < 0,05). Os espécimes fotoativados com LED apresentaram maior sorção de água que os fotoativados com lâmpada halógena. Os CIVMR absorveram mais água que a resina composta. O tipo de unidade de fotoativação afetou as características de sorção de água dos CIVMR.

The Light Emitting Diodes (LED) technology has been used to photoactivate composite resins and there is a great number of published studies in this area. However, there are no studies regarding resin-modified glass-ionomer cements (RMGIC), which also need photoactivation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate water sorption of two RMGIC photoactivated with LED and to compare this property to that obtained with a halogen light curing unit. A resin composite was used as control. Five specimens of 15.0 mm in diameter x 1.0 mm in height were prepared for each combination of material (Fuji II LC Improved, Vitremer, and Filtek Z250) and curing unit (Radii and Optilight Plus) and transferred to desiccators until a constant mass was obtained. Then the specimens were immersed into deionized water for 7 days, weighed and reconditioned to a constant mass in desiccators. Water sorption was calculated based on weight and volume of specimens. The data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA and Tukey test (p < 0.05). Specimens photocured with LED presented significantly more water sorption than those photocured with halogen light. The RMGIC absorbed statistically significant more water than the resin composite. The type of light curing unit affected water sorption characteristics of the RMGIC.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a microdureza de materiais resinosos polimerizados com unidades de fotoativação LED (diodos emissores de luz) e halógena. Vinte espécimes cilíndricos (3,0 mm de diâmetro e 2,0 mm de altura) foram preparados para cada material testado (Z100, Definite e Dyract). Os espécimes foram fotoativados na face superior (topo), utilizando duas unidades de fotoativação (Ultraled and Curing Light 2500), com tempos de 40 s e 60 s. As medidas de dureza foram realizadas nas superfícies do topo e da base de cada espécime. A análise estatística foi realizada por ANOVA e teste de Tukey (p<0,05). Não houve diferença significante na dureza na face superior entre as unidades LED e halógena para a Z100 e o Dyract. Por outro lado, a dureza foi menor quando a Definite foi polimerizada com o LED do que com a unidade halógena. Na base, a dureza de todos os materiais foi menor com o LED do que com a unidade halógena. A Z100 apresentou maior dureza que o Dyract e que a Definite independentemente da unidade de fotoativação. Não houve diferença significante na dureza entre os dois tempos de fotoativação para a face superior. Na base, a dureza foi maior quando os materiais foram polimerizados por 60 s. O LED não foi capaz de produzir a mesma dureza que a unidade halógena nos materiais resinosos testados.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the microhardness of resin-based materials polymerized with a LED (light-emitting diode) light-curing unit (LCU) and a halogen LCU. Twenty cylindrical specimens (3.0 mm in diameter and 2.0 mm high) were prepared for each tested material (Z100, Definite and Dyract). Specimens were light-cured with two LCUs (Ultraled and Curing Light 2500) for either 40 or 60 s on their top surfaces. Hardness was measured on top and bottom surfaces of each specimen. Statistical analysis was done by ANOVA and Tukey's test (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in hardness between LED LCU and halogen LCU for Z100 and Dyract on top surface. Conversely, lower hardness was recorded when Definite was light-cured with the LED LCU than with the halogen lamp. On bottom surface, hardness was significantly lower for all materials light-cured with LED LCU. Z100 was harder than Dyract and Definite regardless of the light curing unit. There was no significant difference in hardness between the exposure times on top surface. Higher hardness was obtained when the materials were light-cured for 60 s on bottom surface. The tested LED was not able to produce the same microhardness of resin-based materials as the halogen LCU.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o comportamento de dois cimentos de ionômero de vidro: um de alta viscosidade (Ketac Molar - ESPE) e um modificado por resina (Fuji VIII - GC) em restaurações envolvendo duas ou mais superfícies dentárias, confeccionadas pela técnica do Tratamento Restaurador Atraumático. Sessenta restaurações (30 com cada material) foram inseridas em estudantes (9-16 anos) por dois operadores. Após 6 meses, dois examinadores independentes avaliaram as restaurações de acordo com os critérios utilizados em trabalhos prévios semelhantes. Os dados foram analisados pelos testes de McNemar e Fischer. A porcentagem de sucesso do tratamento foi de 98,3%. Uma restauração (Ketac Molar) foi substituída por outro material e classificada como falha. As porcentagens de sucesso das restaurações foram de 100% e 96,6% para o Fuji VIII e Ketac Molar, respectivamente. Não houve diferença estatisticamente significante no sucesso das restaurações entre o baseline e 6 meses (p>0,05). Da mesma forma, não houve diferença estatística entre os materiais, tipos de cavidade ou entre operadores.(p>0,05). A técnica ART foi altamente apropriada e efetiva em restaurações envolvendo duas ou mais superfícies, após 6 meses. Os resultados mostraram um comportamento promissor com ambos os materiais.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of two different glass-ionomer cements: a high-density (Ketac Molar - ESPE) and a resin-modified cement (Fuji VIII - GC) using the Atraumatic Restorative Treatment technique to restore multisurface cavities in permanent teeth. A total of 60 ART restorations (30 with each material) were placed in schoolchildren (9-16 years of age) by two operators. After a period of 6 months, two independent examiners evaluated 59 restorations according to the criteria used in previous ART studies. Data were submitted to McNemar and Fischer tests. The success rate of the treatment was 98.3%. One restoration (Ketac Molar) was replaced by another material and was recorded as failure. The success rates of the restorations were 100% and 96.6% for Fuji VIII and Ketac Molar, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the restorations success between baseline and 6 months (p>0.05). In the same way, no significant differences were found between materials, cavity types or operators (p>0.05). The ART approach was highly appropriate and effective in restorations involving two or more tooth surfaces, after 6 months. The results showed a promising performance of the ART technique with both materials.

Avaliou-se a resistência à tração diametral e a sorção de água de cimentos de ionômero de vidro restauradores (Fuji IX e Ketac Molar) e modificados por resina indicados para cimentação (ProTec Cem, Fuji Plus e Vitremer) manipulados na proporção pó: líquido indicada pelo fabricante e em maior proporção para a utilização no Tratamento Restaurador Atraumático. O ionômero restaurador convencional (Ketac Fil) foi utilizado como controle. Espécimes (6,0 mm de diâmetro x 3,0 mm de altura) foram preparados e armazenados (1 hora, 1 dia e 1 semana) para o teste de resistência à tração diametral. Os dados foram submetidos a ANOVA a dois critérios e ao teste de Tukey (p<0,05). Para o teste de sorção de água, espécimes com 15,0 mm de diâmetro x 0,5 mm de altura foram preparados e transferidos a dessecadores até a obtenção de uma massa constante. Em seguida, os espécimes foram imersos em água deionizada por 7 dias, pesados e recondicionados a uma massa constante em dessecadores. Os dados foram submetidos a ANOVA a um critério e ao teste de Tukey (p<0,05). Cinco espécimes de cada material e consistência foram preparados para cada teste. Os ionômeros modificados por resina mostraram maior resistência que os convencionais. Exceto pelo ProTec Cem, a resistência dos materiais modificados por resina significativamente aumentou da consistência cimentante para a restauradora. Exceto pelo ProTec Cem, a sorção de água dos ionômeros modificados por resina foi maior que a dos outros ionômeros. A sorção de água dos materiais modificados por resina na consistência restauradora foi significativamente menor que na consistência de cimentação. Os cimentos de ionômero de vidro modificados por resina indicados para cimentação manipulados em maior proporção pó: líquido apresentaram melhores propriedades que na consistência de cimentação.

The purposes of this study were to evaluate the diametral tensile strength and the water sorption of restorative (Fuji IX and Ketac Molar) and resin-modified glass-ionomer luting cements (ProTec Cem, Fuji Plus and Vitremer) mixed at both manufacturer and increased powder: liquid ratio, for their use in the Atraumatic Restorative Treatment. A conventional restorative glass-ionomer (Ketac Fil) was used as control. Specimens (6.0 mm in diameter x 3.0 mm in height) were prepared and stored (1 hour, 1 day and 1 week) for a diametral tensile strength test. Data were subjected to two-way ANOVA and Tukey tests (p<0.05). For the water sorption test, specimens of 15.0 mm in diameter x 0.5 mm in height were prepared and transfered to desiccators until a constant mass was obtained. Then the specimens were immersed in deionized water for 7 days, weighed and reconditioned to a constant mass in desiccators. Data were subjected to one-way ANOVA and Tukey tests (p<0.05). Five specimens of each studied material and consistency were prepared for each test. The resin-modified glass-ionomer cements showed significantly higher strength than the conventional materials. Except for ProTec Cem, the diametral tensile strength of the resin-modified materials significantly increased from luting to restorative consistency. Except for ProTec Cem, the water sorption of the resin-modified glass ionomers was higher than the others. The water sorption of resin-modified materials at restorative consistency was significantly lower than at luting consistency. Resin-modified glass-ionomer luting cements mixed at increased powder: liquid ratio showed better properties than at luting consistency.