An in vitro study to assess the setting and surface crazing of conventional glass ionomer cement when layered over partially set mineral trioxide aggregate.

The aim of our study was to assess the setting time and surface crazing of glass ionomer cement when layered over partially set mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA). To assess setting time, 40 hollow, cylindrical stainless steel molds were taken and equally divided into 4 groups. In groups I, II, and III glass ionomer cement was layered over partially setting MTA at 45 minutes, 4 hours, and 3 days, respectively. Group IV was used as a control. An additional 50 specimens were prepared for assessment of surface crazing. Twenty specimens (groups I and II) were prepared to study normal and desiccated patterns of conventional glass ionomer cement, respectively. Thirty specimens (groups III, IV, and V) were prepared by layering glass ionomer cement over partially set MTA at various time intervals. All the specimens were stained with red ink and analyzed for craze lines by light microscopy. From our study, it was observed that there was no statistical difference in setting time of glass ionomer cement when layered over partially set MTA in comparison to that of the control group. No craze lines were observed in those specimens (groups III, IV, and V) when viewed under staining and light microscopy. It could be concluded that conventional glass ionomer cement might be layered over partially set MTA after 45 minutes and could be used for single visit procedures.