The effect of varnishes and other surface treatments on water movement across the glass ionomer cement surface. II.

The aesthetic restorative glass ionomer cements undergo a rather prolonged setting reaction during which time they are susceptible to water uptake and water loss. If they can be maintained in isolation long enough in the oral cavity then the clinical result will be superior. A further series of surface treatments has been tested and it has been shown that immediate covering of the immature glass ionomer cement surface with light-activated bonding resin is the most effective method of limiting water movement across the surface. This restriction of water movement is not effective for all light-activated bonding resins suggesting that there may be a physico-chemical interaction occurring on the glass ionomer cement surface with certain of the resins.