Comparison of conventional glass ionomer cement and compomer in class II restorations in primary molars: six months study

ABSTRACT

Restorations in primary teeth continue to be an important facet of restorative dentistry. Traditionally, posterior primary teeth have been restored with amalgam. Recently, there has been a range of tooth-colored materials available for restoring primary and young mixed dentitions. These materials are conventional glass ionomer cements and composite resins, resin-modified glass ionomer cements and compomers. To compare the clinical performance of conventional glass ionomer cement with compomer, in class II restorations in primary molars. This was a quasi experimental study conducted at Operative Department of Fatima Jinnah Dental College Hospital, Karachi during period of six months, on 132 patients meeting the inclusion criteria [2 proximally carious primary molars, 264 carious lesions] were included in the study. All 132 patients enrolled in the study were recalled after six months and restorations were clinically examined for marginal adaptation and anatomic form. Out of 264 restorations, 10 teeth were lost because of the normal exfoliation of primary teeth.124 restorations failed during the follow-up period from which 123 [93.2%] were conventional glass ionomer cement and only 1[0.8%] was compomer. In terms of marginal adaptation and anatomic form, compomer performed significantly better than Conventional glass ionomer cement in class II cavity in primary molars