Improvement of erosion resistance of a silicate cement by infrared radiation

Silicate cement specimens have been exposed to infrared radiation for the purpose of improving the erosion resistance. Exposure for periods of 3-10 min, corresponding to a surface temperature of about 60-70 degrees C, resulted in a reduced phosphate release of about 3-5 times that of a non-exposed group. The temperature distributions on the surface, as well as in a position 5 mm beneath the surface, were measured with thermocouples during irradiation. A difference in temperature of about 20 degrees C was registered between the surface and interior positions. The technique may be clinically exploited by exposing the restoration after insertion to a small infrared radiation source, available on the commercial market.