title: Mechanical performance of encapsulated restorative glass-ionomer cements for use with Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART).
abstract: The Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) approach was suggested to be a suitable method to treat enamel and dentine carious lesions in patients with disabilities. The use of a restorative glass-ionomer with optimal mechanical properties is, therefore, very important.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To test the null-hypotheses that no difference in diametral tensile, compressive and flexural strengths exists between: (1) The EQUIA system and (2) The Chemfil Rock (encapsulated glass-ionomers; test materials) and the Fuji 9 Gold Label and the Ketac Molar Easymix (hand-mixed conventional glass-ionomers; control materials); (3) The EQUIA system and Chemfil Rock.
  
  
  METHODS
  Specimens for testing flexural (n = 240) and diametral tensile (n=80) strengths were prepared according to standardized specifications; the compressive strength (n=80) was measured using a tooth-model of a class II ART restoration. ANOVA and Tukey B tests were used to test for significant differences between dependent and independent variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The EQUIA system and Chemfil Rock had significantly higher mean scores for all the three strength variables than the Fuji 9 Gold Label and Ketac Molar Easymix (α=0.05). The EQUIA system had significant higher mean scores for diametral tensile and flexural strengths than the Chemfil Rock (α=0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The two encapsulated high-viscosity glass-ionomers had significantly higher test values for diametral tensile, flexural and compressive strengths than the commonly used hand-mixed high-viscosity glass-ionomers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Materials, School of Dentistry, National University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina. gfmolina@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Gustavo Fabián
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.forename: Ricardo Juan
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Cabral
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mazzola
authors.forename: Laura Brain
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Lascano
authors.forename: Jo E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Frencken
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D019245:Compressive Strength; D057087:Dental Atraumatic Restorative Treatment / Q000379:methods*; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013499:Surface Properties; D013718:Tensile Strength; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements