Comparative Evaluation of Compressive Strength of Self-cure, Dual-cure, and Light-cure Glass Ionomer Cements in a Simulated Oral Environment: An

Background: In primary dentition, glass ionomer cements (GICs) have unique benefits as a restorative material. Various types of GICs are available in the market. In pediatric dentistry, the choice of GI materials is generally focused on handling convenience with adequate consideration for mechanical qualities, including compressive strength to withstand occlusal stresses in the oral environment. Aim of the study: To evaluate the compressive strength of self-cure, dual-cure, and light-cure GI-based cements using a universal testing machine. Materials and methods: The study population comprised 30 cylindrical restorative blocks for compressive strength assessment. The restorative materials used for the studies were self-cure GIC (ChemFil Rock and GC Fuji IX GP Fast GIC), dual-cure GIC (Equia Forte and Ionolux GIC), and light-cure GIC (GC Fuji II LC and Ketac N 100 GIC). The cylindrical blocks were prepared using prefabricated Teflon mold measuring 4 mm diameter and 6 mm height from respective restorative materials and divided into three major groups and were subdivided into six groups comprising two materials in each group. Using an Instron universal testing machine, compressive strength was assessed. Data obtained were tabulated, and statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS v22.0) software. Results: On individual comparison of GI-based types of cement, Ketac N100 GIC showed the highest compressive strength, and Fuji IX GP Fast GIC showed the least compressive strength. Conclusion: Light-cure GIC exhibited the highest compressive strength in comparison to dual-cure and self-cure GICs with regard to the nature of curing. How to cite this article: Chandru TP, Chandran S, Peedikayil FC,