An adequate and homogeneous cure of light-activated restroative material is very important for improvement of marginal adaptation and prevention of marginal leakage, secondary caries and pulpal irritation as well as expression natural physical
property
of that material. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the change of surface hardness and cure uniformity of light-activated glass ionomer cements. Restorative (Fuji II LC, Vitremer) and lining(Baseline VLC, Vitrebond) light-activated glass
ionomer
cements were investigated for this study. The surface hardness of the top and bottom surfaces and cure uniformity of each 1mm, 1.5mm, 2mm, 2.5mm & 3mm in the thickness of specimen were measured immediately, at 1 hour, 24 hours and 1 week after
light
activation. The surface hardness change and cure uniformity of all the specimens were measured by Knoop hardness tester.
@ES The results were as follows.
@EN 1. The surface hardness of top and bottom surfaces in all groups increased with time(p<0.01).
2. Both top and bottom surfaces hardness of Vitrebond group measured immediately after light-activation were significantly lower than those of the other gorups(p<0.01).
3. The surface hardness of top and bottom surfaces of restorative light -activated glass ionomer cements was higher than those of lining materials at 1 week(p<0.01).
4. Surface hardness of Vitremer group decreased as the specimen thickness increased, except top and bottom surfaces hardness of the specimen at 1 week(p<0.01). There was no significant difference in the surface hardness of Fuji II LC with
changes
in
the thickness except bottom surface hardness of specimen at 24 hours and 1 week(p>0.05).
5. Surface hardness of Vitrebond group significantly decreased as the specimen thickness increased(p<0.01). There was no significant difference in the surface hardness of Baseline VLC group with changes in the thickness except bottom surface
hardness
of specimen measured immediately after light -activation(p>0.05).
6. The hardness ratio of top against bottom surface in all groups decreased with time(p<0.05).
7. There was no significant difference in the hardness ratio of top against bottom surface with changes of the thickness except Vitrebond group, 24 hours and 1 week of Vitremer group and 1 week of Baseline VLC group (p>0.05).
These results suggest that surface hardness of restorative ligh-activated glass ionomer cements were highter than those of linig light-activated materials. In all groups, the surface hardness and cure uniformity continuously increased with time.
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