Radiopacity evaluation of different glass ionomer cements: An in-vitro and in-vivo study

BACKGROUND: glass ionomer cements’ (giCs) radiopacity, which is lower than enamel, might be misleadingly misinterpreted as secondary caries under resin-based composite (rBC) restorations. The aim of this study was to evaluate, in vitro and in vivo, the radiopacities of six giCs and one rBC, correlating them to tooth radiopacity. METhODS: in the in-vitro study, ten 2.0-mm-thick molds were prepared for each giC and rBC. an aluminum step wedge (al) and tooth slices were used as control. as for in vivo, 60 patients were selected using ethical standards; thus 60 teeth with restorations requiring replacement on the occlusal surface of molars were included. after baseline restoration removal and cavity preparation, the teeth were restored with the different giCs and rBC. Both in-vitro and in-vivo samples were X-rayed using digital system and JPg-images obtained were analyzed with adobe Photoshop Elements 11 software. after examination of data normality, one-way aNOVa, Tukey’s test and Student’s t-test were conducted. rESuLTS: in decreasing order, the following sequence was observed in the in-vitro study results: riva SC ~ riva LC ~ rBC > Ketac Molar ~ Vitremer ~ Enamel > Vidrion r ~ Dentin ~ al 2 mm > Maxxion r ~ al 1 mm. as for the in-vivo study: riva SC ~ riva LC ~ Ketac Molar ~ Vitremer > Enamel ~ Vidrion r > Dentin > Maxxion r. CONCLuSiONS: Maxxion r is the only non-complying dental material with current standards regarding radiopacity.