title: Modifications in Glass Ionomer Cements: Nano-Sized Fillers and Bioactive Nanoceramics.
abstract: Glass ionomer cements (GICs) are being used for a wide range of applications in dentistry. In order to overcome the poor mechanical properties of glass ionomers, several modifications have been introduced to the conventional GICs. Nanotechnology involves the use of systems, modifications or materials the size of which is in the range of 1-100 nm. Nano-modification of conventional GICs and resin modified GICs (RMGICs) can be achieved by incorporation of nano-sized fillers to RMGICs, reducing the size of the glass particles, and introducing nano-sized bioceramics to the glass powder. Studies suggest that the commercially available nano-filled RMGIC does not hold any significant advantage over conventional RMGICs as far as the mechanical and bonding properties are concerned. Conversely, incorporation of nano-sized apatite crystals not only increases the mechanical properties of conventional GICs, but also can enhance fluoride release and bioactivity. By increasing the crystallinity of the set matrix, apatites can make the set cement chemically more stable, insoluble, and improve the bond strength with tooth structure. Increased fluoride release can also reduce and arrest secondary caries. However, due to a lack of long-term clinical studies, the use of nano-modified glass ionomers is still limited in daily clinical dentistry. In addition to the in vitro and in vivo studies, more randomized clinical trials are required to justify the use of these promising materials. The aim of this paper is to review the modification performed in GIC-based materials to improve their physicochemical properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dental Sciences, Al-Farabi Colleges, P.O Box 361724, Riyadh 11313, Saudi Arabia. shariqnajeeb@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Shariq
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Najeeb
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Biomaterials, College of Dentistry, King Faisal University, P.O. Box 400, Al-Hofuf 31982, Saudi Arabia. drzohaibkhurshid@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Zohaib
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Khurshid
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Madina Munawwarrah 41311, Saudi Arabia. mzafar@taibahu.edu.sa.
authors.forename: Muhammad Sohail
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Zafar
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Research Centre in Biomedical Materials, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Defence Road, off Raiwind Road, Lahore 54000, Pakistan. draskhan@ciitlahore.edu.pk.
authors.forename: Abdul Samad
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, King Faisal University, Al-Hofuf 31982, Saudia Arabia. szohaib@kfu.edu.sa.
authors.forename: Sana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zohaib
authors.affiliation: Preventive and Minimally Invasive Dentistry (Spanish Course), Departamento de Odontolog&#237;a, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad CEU-Cardenal Herrera, Valencia 46115, Spain. juan.nunez@uch.ceu.es.
authors.forename: Juan Manuel Nuñez
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Martí
authors.affiliation: Dental Biomaterials, Preventive and Minimally Invasive Dentistry (Bilingual course), Departamento de Odontolog&#237;a, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad CEU-Cardenal Herrera, Valencia 46115, Spain. salvatore.sauro@uch.ceu.es.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sauro
authors.affiliation: The University of Hong Kong, Faculty of Dentistry, Dental Materials Science, Hong Kong, China. jpmat@hku.hk.
authors.forename: Jukka Pekka
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Matinlinna
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Kroto Research Institute, The University of Sheffield, North Campus, Broad Lane, Sheffield S3 7HQ, UK. i.u.rehman@sheffield.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Ihtesham Ur
authors.initials: IU
authors.lastname: Rehman
mesh_terms: D002516:Ceramics / Q000737:chemistry*; D003738:Dental Cements / Q000737:chemistry*; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D003738:Dental Cements; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements
keywords: adhesive dentistry; glass ionomer cement; nanotechnology; restorative dentistry