ABSTRACT
The purpose of this in vitro study was to analyse the absorbance of dye material in conventional glass ionomer cement [GIC] by applying various commercially available surface protecting layers on GIC. 90 disc-shaped specimens were made using brass mold measuring 7mm in diameter and 2mm in thickness. 30 specimens were selected for each week testing having 6 groups [n=5]. The groups were: G1 [Control group], G2 [Nail polish coated GIC], G3 [Master bond coated GIC], G4 [Copal varnish coated GIC], G5 [Varnal coated GIC], G6 [Cold mold seal coated GIC]. The specimens of each group were immersed in a separate test tube filled with methylene blue dye, and placed in an incubator [37[degree]C +/- 2[degree]C] for 1 week, 2 weeks and 3 weeks' time. After required time period, the specimens were rinsed under distal water for 1 minute and air dried for 1 hour. Next, the specimens of each group were put into new test tubes containing 1ml absolute alcohol and again stored at [37[degree]C +/- 2[degree]C] for 24 hours. Absorbance were recorded in ultraviolet spectrophotometer. Results were analysed by Student t-test and Pearson's correlation. The results suggest that varnal and copal varnish are effective protecting materials with significant difference [P<0.01] after 3 weeks time. Our results conclude that the application of suitable protecting material may lead to longevity of GIC restorative biomaterial in a complexed oral environment