Leaching of ions from materials used in alternative restorative technique under neutral and acidic conditions: a comparative evaluation.

This study was undertaken to gain an insight into the interaction of conventional glass ionomers (GC Fuji II, GC Fuji IX GP and Chem Flex restorative materials) commonly used in Alternative Restorative Technique (ART) with aqueous solutions in terms of water sorption, solution buffering and ion release. Both immature and mature specimens of all materials evaluated, showed a substantial increase in mass, pH and release of Na, Ca, Sr, Al, Si, P and F following immersion in deionized water lactic acid (pH 2.7) and lactic acid (pH 5.2). However the ion release profiles were found to be greater in acidic media (Lactic Acid pH 2.7 > Lactic Acid pH 5.2) than in deionized water.