Abstract
This study investigated the effect of coating on the mechanical properties of glass ionomer materials. Two brands of each conventional glass ionomer cement (Fuji IONOMER TYPE II, GLASIONOMER-F), light-cured glass ionomer cement (Fuji IONOMER TYPE II LC, Vitremer), or glass ionomer-modified composite (compomer)(Xeno, Dyract) were tested. A commercial light-cured coating agent (BELLFEEL BRIGHTENER II)was used to coat the cement specimens. Brinell hardness number and the 3-point flexural strengths of specimens with or without coating were determined at 24 hours and 1 week after specimen preparation. When applied to the conventional glass ionomer cements. coating significantly(p<0.05) increased the hardness values. For all the materials tested, except for Dyract, the flexural strengths of the specimens with coating were significantly greater than without coating. Coating appeared to effectively improve the mechanical properties of the conventional glass ionomer cements.
