Release of fluoride and other elements from light-cured glass ionomers in neutral and acidic conditions

The purpose of this study was to measure the release of fluoride, sodium, silicon, calcium, strontium, and aluminum from light-cured glass ionomers. The materials tested were: (1) Baseline VLC thick mix; (2) Baseline VLC thin mix; (3) Fuji Lining LC; (4) Vitrebond; and (5) XR-Ionomer. A conventional glass ionomer, Ketac-FilAplicap, and a silver-reinforced glass ionomer, Ketac-Silver, were used as controls. Each test specimen was first stored for 16 days in de-ionized water, followed by a further 16 days in 0.01 mol/L lactic acid (pH 4.0); both solutions were replaced at predetermined intervals. After that, the specimens were immersed for up to 122 days in de-ionized water. During the immersion, light-cured glass ionomers showed considerable variation in the release of fluoride and other elements. In lactic acid, all cements eluted the matrix-forming cations, aluminum and calcium or strontium. This suggests that light-cured materials are as equally susceptible to erosion as are chemically cured glass ionomers. During the immersion, some of the light-cured materials showed a considerable weight gain.