Comparative Evaluation of Surface Hardness of Different Resin-Modified Glass Ionomers and a Compomer

Due to the practical problems and time restriction issues in treating dental problems in children, there is a noticeable demand for the application of a convenient handling restorative material with acceptable physical-mechanical properties. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate Vickers microhardness of four tooth-colored restorative materials as a determining mechanical property in pediatric dental care. In this in vitro study, 20 samples were established for each Fuji II LC, Ionoseal, Ionolux, and Ionosit restorative dental materials by a single operator using polyvinyl chloride cubical molds (4 × 4 mm side length and 2 mm height). After polymerization by using a halogen visible-light polymerization unit, they were stored in artificial saliva at 37°C for 24 hours and then wet finished with a sequence of silicon carbide grit papers. Fuji II LC was used as the reference material for the resin-modified glass ionomer cements. Vickers hardness of all samples was assessed. The recorded data were analyzed by the Kruskal–Wallis test followed by the Mann–Whitney U test at the P < 0.05 significance level.Besides the statistical difference between the four groups, the mean values of surface microhardness of Fuji II LC and Ionoseal were significantly higher than the powder-liquid Ionolux. The hardness value of compomer and Ionoseal was different but the difference was not statistically significant. On the basis of the importance of microhardness property in the clinical success of a restorative material, the extensively investigated microhardness value of the Ionoseal material in addition to its ease of handling and benefits of time saving may account for its consideration as a reliable restorative material in the dental care for children.