title: An in vitro study of the released potassium and chloride ions from polycarboxylate cement containing 5% KCl.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To find with a laboratory study in vitro the concentrations of released potassium (K+) and chloride (Cl-) ions extracted from polycarboxylate cement containing 5% KCl.
  
  
  METHODS
  Model calibrated blocks of polycarboxylate cement containing 5% KCl were prepared for the study. Every block contained 6.40 mg potassium ions and 5.80 mg chloride ions. The extraction of the ions was performed in stationary conditions with extragent Aqua redestillata at different time periods: 20 minutes from the mixing of the cement, 24 h, 7 days/168 h/, 14 days/336 h/, 30 days/720 h/ and 90 days/2160 h/ at temperature 36 +/- 0.5 degrees C and pH--7. The concentrations of the released K- and Cl- ions in the extract (in mg/10 cm3), as well as their degree of extraction (in percentage) were measured using emission flame photometry and spectrophotometry. The data are analyzed statistically using descriptive statistics, statistical significance being defined at p<0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The concentrations of released potassium and chloride ions increased with time and reached their maximum on the 14th day (336 h). The differences with their respective baseline values are statistically significant (P<0.001). The degree of extraction of the active ions is highest on the 14th day (336 h) - (93.12% for the K-ions and 93.10% for the CL-ions).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The active supplement of 5% KCL in the polycarboxylate cement increases the rate of extraction of the ions, as the concentrations of the released K- and Cl-ions increase with time and reach maximum values on the 14th day (336 h).
authors.affiliation: Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Medical University, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Snezhana Ts
authors.initials: STs
authors.lastname: Tsanova
authors.forename: Kiril K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Kundev
mesh_terms: D002712:Chlorides / Q000032:analysis*; D003763:Dental Leakage; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007477:Ions; D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement / Q000737:chemistry*; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002712:Chlorides; D007477:Ions; D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement; D011188:Potassium