[Glass ionomer cement and "sandwich" restorations after two years of clinical service]

Esthetic restorations for class V lesions extending into root dentin often show marginal discoloration after some time. In this clinical study the long term quality of glass ionomer cement and "sandwich" restorations was compared with each other. In 19 patients 83 class V lesions with the apical margin in dentin were restored with glassionomer cement (I: Fuji II/G-C Dental; II: Ketac Fil/ESPE) or with a glass ionomer liner (III: Lining Cement/G-C Dental; IV: Ketac Bond/ESPE) and laminated with a composite. Where necessary the margins were prepared apically with a butt joint. The observation period between placement and last follow-up check varied between 18 and 44 months. Modified Ryge criteria were used for the clinical assessment of 77 restorations. Marginal quality was assessed in the SEM using replicas. 15.8% of the "sandwich" type and 5% of the glass ionomer cement restorations were lost. All restored teeth remained vital. Clinically the best marginal quality was found with a glass ionomer cement (II) whereas only two thirds of the sandwich restorations and the other glassionomer cement (I) had perfect margins. In the SEM the glassionomer cements had significantly less marginal openings than one of the sandwich restorations (III).