What is glass ionomer cement in dentistry? - Project Sports
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What is glass ionomer cement in dentistry?

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Asked by: Angela Jasienowski

A glass ionomer cement (GIC) is a dental restorative material used in dentistry as a filling material and luting cement, including for orthodontic bracket attachment. Glass-ionomer cements are based on the reaction of silicate glass-powder (calciumaluminofluorosilicate glass) and polyacrylic acid, an ionomer.

What is glass ionomer used for in dentistry?

Glass-ionomers have various uses within dentistry. They are used as full restorative materials, especially in the primary dentition, and also as liners and bases, as fissure sealants and as bonding agents for orthodontic brackets.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of glass ionomer?

The advantages of glass-ionomer cements are offset by the following disadvantages:

  • low fracture toughness, limiting applications in high load-bearing areas.
  • some types cannot be finished and polished at the same visit they are placed.
  • some types are vulnerable to acid erosion.

What are the disadvantages of glass ionomer?

Glass Ionomer Filling Disadvantages

  • The material is a lot weaker than other filling materials and is prone to quick wear and tear.
  • Although the colour is close, it is not a perfect match to your original tooth colour.
  • It takes a long time to complete Glass Ionomer, treatment as each layer has to be bonded individually.


Is GIC a permanent filling?

GIC fillings are permanent fillings. They stay for quite a long duration (depending on your type of food intake, supari, tobacco, etc.).

How long does a glass ionomer filling last?

Glass ionomers release fluoride, which can help protect the tooth from further decay. However, this material is weaker than composite resin and is more susceptible to wear and prone to fracture. Glass ionomer generally lasts five years or less with costs comparable to composite resin.

What are the advantages of using glass ionomer?

Glass ionomer cements exhibit a number of advantages over other restorative materials. By bonding a restorative material to tooth structure, the cavity is theoretically sealed, protecting the pulp, eliminating secondary caries and preventing leakage at the margins.

Which filling is best for teeth?

Composite fillings are the most widely used dental filling material. They’re made of glass or quartz in resin. Your dentist may choose a composite filling if the size of your cavity is small to medium, or if your tooth gets a lot of chewing action.

Are glass ionomer fillings safe?

There are no negative health effects associated with the use of glass ionomers. Their use is primarily due to their flexibility – they are easier to apply compared to composite fillings.

How do you place a glass ionomer?


Within the first few seconds of placement. Your nurse will place a small quantity of petroleum jelly on your middle finger. They will also place a small amount of glass ionomer on your forefinger.

What is the safest tooth filling material?

Fillings made from amalgam are fifty percent mercury, with other metals like copper, tin, and zinc that make up the rest. Amalgam or silver fillings have long been considered the best option for dental fillings because they are affordable and durable. In fact, they can last for years with proper care.

Can GIC filling be removed?

just go and remove the left over GIC filling and tell them to reclean and fill composite restoration on posterior teeth because it needs more strength for chewing hard foods and GIC cant support that. Was this answer helpful? You can leave the GiC but wears off easily. So better get a permanent done.

How much does GIC filling cost?

Answers (2) GIC filling will range from Rs 300 to 600 and composite filling will range from Rs 800 to 1500.

Which procedures can be glass ionomers be used for?

Glass ionomer cements may be used for abrasion and erosion cavities, restoration of deciduous teeth, restoration of class III and class V carious lesions, and tunnel restorations, and may also be combined with resin composite in the laminate or ‘sandwich’ technique.

Is glass ionomer stronger than composite?

While they are less durable than harder wearing fillings, like silver amalgams or gold fillings, composite fillings are significantly more durable than its glass ionomer counterpart.

Is glass ionomer a permanent cement?

Glass ionomer cements are high strength bases used primarily for permanent cement, as a base, and as a Class V filling material. They are supplied as a powder and a liquid, or as a powder that is mixed with water. The liquid is typically polyacrylic acid.

Does glass ionomer bond to dentin?

Glass ionomer lining materials bond to dentin with bond strengths varying from 2.0 to 4.9 MPa. These materials also adhere to composite restorative materials, by mechanical retention for conventional glass ionomer and mechanical and chemical bonding for RMGI.

What is the most common use of glass ionomer cement?

Glass ionomer cement is primarily used in the prevention of dental caries. This dental material has good adhesive bond properties to tooth structure, allowing it to form a tight seal between the internal structures of the tooth and the surrounding environment.

How do you remove a GIC?

A very simple way to remove the cement is by lightly heating the band or crown with a Bunsen burner or torch and quenching it in water. This will crystallize the cement and allow it to be simply flaked out of the band or crown.

How do you place a glass ionomer?

Within the first few seconds of placement. Your nurse will place a small quantity of petroleum jelly on your middle finger. They will also place a small amount of glass ionomer on your forefinger.

What instruments are needed for glass ionomer filling?

The instruments needed for mixing glass ionomer are as follows:

  • Cotton roll and small cotton pellets, gauze.
  • Liquid – poly-acrylic acid.
  • Glass ionomer powder – calcium fluoro-alumino-silicate glass.
  • Glass ionomer measuring scoop (provided by the manufacturer)
  • Glass ionomer mixing pad,
  • Calcium hydroxide applicator,

Can a glass ionomer cement be used as a restorative material?

Glass ionomer cement can be used as a restorative material in its own right or as a base for a composite resin overlay (sandwich restoration) where the remaining tooth structure is unsupported and requires a bonded composite to maintain its structural integrity.

Why Vaseline is applied over GIC?

Similarly petroleum jelly also impedes the fluoride release, but to a very less extent. We suggest that in situations where the fluoride release property is more important than other properties it is better to coat the GIC with petroleum jelly or leave the restoration without any coating.

Which tooth filling is safest?

Fillings made from amalgam are fifty percent mercury, with other metals like copper, tin, and zinc that make up the rest. Amalgam or silver fillings have long been considered the best option for dental fillings because they are affordable and durable. In fact, they can last for years with proper care.

Why is a plastic spatula used to mix GIC?

Some dental mixing spatulas are made from plastic (used mainly for mixing glass ionomer cement) because stainless steel would react with the material being mixed. Dental cement mixing spatulas are used in the preparation of dental cements for prosthodontics procedures.

Why glass ionomer should be coated with varnish?

Historically glass-ionomer samples have been coated with a varnish to protect the material from the effect of water on the surface. However, varnishes have been shown to peel from this surface. The set cement matrix may become chalky and can erode rapidly.