Early erosion of dental cements

The disintegration in water of various unset glass ionomer cements, a polycarboxylate and a zinc phosphate cement was measured gravimetrically after exposure of the cements to a constant water jet. The test gave reproducible results with significant variations between the various types and brands of cements. For zinc phosphate and polycarboxylate cements, no weight loss was observed in the period from 4 to 8 min after commencement of mixing. All the glass ionomer cements showed a significant loss of weight at 4 min and a somewhat reduced weight loss at 6 min after start of mixing. Two cements, a filling and a luting material, showed reduced weight when exposed to a water jet even 8 min after start of mixing. The early erosion as recorded in the present study conforms with the setting of the glass ionomer cements.