Cariostatic effect of glass ionomer cement: a five-year clinical study

Composite resin and glass ionomer cement were used to restore 67 and 65 Class V carious lesions, respectively. The restorations were assessed each year for recurrent caries and marginal staining. After five years, 1 per cent of glass ionomer and 6 per cent of composite restorations had become carious, and there was approximately twice as much marginal staining around the composite as around the glass ionomers. There appear to be significant benefits in using glass ionomer to restore Class V carious lesions.