Surface coatings on glass ionomer restorations in Pediatric dentistry-Worthy or not?

To know the effect of surface protective agents used in day-to-day practice on the fluoride release property of conventional glass ionomer cements (GIC) and discuss its pros and cons.

Thirty disc-shaped specimens were fabricated from conventional GIC and block randomized into three groups (Group I, II, and III) of 10 each. Group I specimens were unprotected, group II coated with cavity varnish (Namuvar, Ratnagiri, India) and group III with petroleum jelly (Vaseline, Hindustan lever ltd). After polymerization, the disks were immersed in three individual sealable plastic bottles containing deionized distilled water which was changed every 24 hours for 15 days to measure the fluoride release. STATISTICS AND RESULTS: Statistical analysis was carried using software version Systat 10.0, and the data was subjected to one way ANOVA, using Duncan Multiple Range test (Variable LSD) with the level of significance set at 0.05 (P < 0.05). The greatest amount of fluoride was released from the uncoated group, followed in ranking by petroleum jelly and varnish coated and the difference among them was statistically significant (P < 0.05).

Application of varnish over GIC can severely impede its fluoride release property. Similarly petroleum jelly also impedes the fluoride release, but to a very less extent. We suggest that in situations where the fluoride release property is more important than other properties it is better to coat the GIC with petroleum jelly or leave the restoration without any coating.