Clinical examination of the gingival effects of three glass ionomer restorative materials (GC Fuji IX GP, GC Fuji IX GP EXTRA és GC EQUIA®)

Abstract

The restoration of cervical abrasions, erosions or cervical carious lesions is still challenging because of their unpredictable
adhesion and possible negative effects on the marginal plaque accumulation. The impact of three different glass
ionomer cements (GIC) on the marginal gingiva and root sensitivity was studied. Furthermore, it was investigated in details,
whether or not a recently developed light curing varnish (GC Coat - EQUIA®) had any additional effect on the gingival
tissue.
A total number of 30 non-smokers with healthy gingiva having at least one cervical supra/paragingival abrasion/erosion/
abfraction defects were enrolled in the present study. The cervical defects were randomly restored by using one of
the three GIC and the gingival parameters were recorded and evaluated at baseline, 6 weeks and 6 months.
According to our results root sensitivity were substantially decreased in all the three groups.
Plaque scores were also reduced in all groups with the greatest improvement at the sites where the new varnish were
applied. Although this improvement was not reflected by the gingival parameters, such as bleeding on probing and crevicular
fluid flow, since both were slightly increased in the varnish group. However, neither the intra-group, nor the intergroup
differences reached statistical significance.
Consequently, the three investigated GIC did not significantly affect the gingival health, therefore they might serve as
alternative for the treatment of such cervical lesions. Nevertheless, the new light cure varnish-coated GIC did not seem
to be either clinically or statistical significantly more favorable.