OBSERVATIONS IN AUSTRALIA OF THE USE OF GLASS-IONOMER CEMENT RESTORATIVE MATERIAL

The aim of this study was to evaluate, with the aid of a questionnaire distributed to selected groups of dentists, the use of glass ionomer cement in different types of proximal restorations and further to eval uate any complications observed with the use of GIC. Few dentists resp onded in the 'Often' category regarding the observation of secondary c aries or gingival inflammation in association with GIC fillings compar ed with about three-quarters of the dentists who reported on posterior composite resin restorations. Tunnel cavities had been prepared and r estored by 54 per cent of the dentists, simple proximal restorations i n primary molars by 89 per cent and 'sandwich' restorations by 69 per cent. Few dentists with at least two years experience with tunnel rest orations observed biological complications, but fracture of the margin al ridge was reported in the 'Often' category by 12 per cent. Among th e dentists with at least five years experience with proximal restorati ons in primary molars 59 per cent of the operators mentioned more comp lications with these than with amalgam restorations. Biological compli cations were not a great problem with glass ionomer/composite laminate s but wear or dissolution of the proximal GIC surface was recorded in the 'Often' section by 14 per cent of those placing them.