Purpose: Three commercial restorative glass-ionomer cements (GICs) were modified with 5% and 10wt/wt% nanodiamond (ND) particles incorporated into the powder of the GICs. The aim of the study was to assess the percentage of surface fluoride increase on different materials, following 2% neutral sodium fluoride gel application (2% NSF).
Materials and Methods: The commercial GICs were: FN, Fuji IX GP (GC); KU, Ketac Universal (3M Oral Care); and RSC: Riva Self Cure (SDI). Grade 1 (Plasmachem) nanodiamond was used. Six specimens of each material were prepared using precise powder:liquid ratios. After a 10-min setting time, the GICs were polished. The specimens were randomly divided into two groups: control (group A) and test (group B). The samples were blot dried and group B received the 2% NSF gel for 2 min. The excess was wiped off with gauze and both groups were analyzed with SEM-EDS.
Results: Data analysis revealed that all the GICs and their respective ND modifications had a statistically significant surface fluoride percentage increase (p < 0.0001) on the GICs in group B. The addition of ND10% w/w to FN (p < 0.001) and RSC (p = 0.029) resulted in statistically significant increase of surface fluoride percentage. KU remained consistent with no statistically significant increase noted between ND-modified KU and KU in group A or B.
Conclusion: The ability of GICs to absorb the 2% NSF gel immediately after finishing of the restoration statistically significantly increases the fluoride percentage of the surface layer.