Remineralizing effects of glass ionomer restorations on adjacent interproximal caries

The purpose of this study was to examine the in vitro remineralization of i ncipient caries lesions on teeth adjacent interproximally to teeth with Cla ss II glass ionomer cement restorations. Sixty-four extracted molars were s elected and 1 x 5 mm artificial caries lesions were created at the interpro ximal contact point. One hundred micrometer sections were obtained at the c aries sites, and polarized-light photomicrographs were obtained. The sectio ns were covered with varnish, leaving only the external section site expose d, and were placed back into the original tooth. In another sixty-four mola rs, Class II cavities were prepared. Equal numbers of preparations were fil led with Fuji IX GP, Vitremer, Ketac-Molar, or Z 250. These sixty-four teet h were mounted to have interproximal contact with the adjacent teeth contai ning the artificial caries lesions. Specimens were placed in closed environ ments of artificial saliva for one month. After thirty days, the same secti ons were photographed again under polarized light, and areas of the lesions were quantitated. Decrease in the size of caries lesions indicated the gla ss ionomers had significantly greater remineralization effects on adjacent caries than the nonfluoridated composite resin (ANOVA p < 0.05). There were no significant differences among the three glass ionomers tested.