Polymerization efficiency of glass-ionomer and resin adhesives under molar bands.

OBJECTIVE To determine the degree of cure of a light-cured resin-modified glass ionomer (RMGI) under molar bands compared with a light-cured resin and a dual-cured resin. MATERIALS AND METHODS The 3 cements used were Fuji Ortho LC, Eagle Spectrum resin, and Variolink II dual-cure. Each sample was indirectly light cured for 20 seconds (10 seconds occlusally, 10 seconds cervically) under sections of molar bands, and the degree of cure was evaluated with micro-MIR FTIR spectroscopy. RESULTS The RMGI exhibited a significantly higher mean degree of cure (55.31%) than both of the resins (Eagle 19.23%; Variolink II, 25.42%), which did not differ significantly at alpha = .05 level of significance. CONCLUSION Higher degree of conversion can be obtained from RMGIs under molar bands compared with composite resin adhesives provided the proper curing technique is used.