ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to assess the effect of glass ionomer fillings Fuji IX on the mineral content of the hard dental tissues of carious teeth treated by sparing methods. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study material consisted of 4 deciduous teeth lost due to physiological resorption. The teeth had glass ionomer fillings Fuji IX inserted after treatment of caries by means of sparing methods (ART and CMCR). Chemical analysis of enamel and dentin was performed by means of energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) with X-ray analysis QUEST system at a distance of 20 um (point C) and 120 um (point D), respectively. The content of the following elements was evaluated in weight percent: oxygen (O), fluoride (F), sodium (Na), magnesium (Mg), aluminum (Al), silicon (Si), phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), strontium (Sr). The Ca/P ratio was calculated. T-student test for pairs, with the level of significance p < 0.05, was used for statistical analysis of the results. RESULTS: We found significantly higher levels of fluoride, aluminum and silicon and lower concentrations of calcium and phosphorus in the dentine adjacent to the filling (point C). However, no statistically significant differences were observed in the levels of the elements between these two sites of measurement. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that mineralization of the calcified dentine may involve elements released from glass ionomer cement Fuji IX.
