Dimensional stability of glass ionomer used as a core material.

This laboratory study evaluated the dimensional stability of two reinforced glass ionomers (Ketac-Silver and Fuji Miracle Mix) in comparison with amalgam. Ten core build-ups were prepared with each material on extracted human teeth. Four Minim pins were placed in each tooth for retention. A gold casting was made for each core build-up. The specimens were placed in a distilled water and the distance between the casting and the tooth was measured at 1 hour, 6 hours, and then every 24 hours for 7 days. After 7 days, the measured changes were small, ranging from 1 to 63 microns. The reinforced glass ionomers were found to be dimensionally stable in moisture over a period of 7 days.