Ketac fil plus

In the present in vitro study four different materials in the field of restorative dentistry were examined. In particular we focused on a Giomer (Beautifil II by Shofu Dental Corporation, Osaka, Japan), a Compomer (Dyract Extra by Dentsply, Caulk, Germany), GI cement (Ketac fil plus by 3M ESPE, London, Canada), and a composite resin (Tetric Evoceram by Ivoclar, Amherst, USA).

Prophylaxis was performed after the cavity preparations in all the dental root blocks using a pumice stone paste (SS White) and distilled and deionized water. The cavities were washed with a water and air spray and air dried.
Preparations in groups 1 and 3 were restored with a resin composite (Filtek Z 250, 3 M ESPE, St. Paul, MN, USA) using 37% phosphoric acid etching and Single Bond 2 adhesive (3 M ESPE, St. Paul, MN, USA) before insertion of the resin composite. The preparations in groups 2 and 4 were restored using conventional glass ionomer cement (GIC) (Ketac Fil Plus, 3 M ESPE, St. Paul, MN) with the aid of a Centrix syringe to avoid the inclusion of bubbles within the restorative material. Subsequently, the GIC was covered with a polyester strip, and a glass slide and weight (500 g) were placed on top for 7 min to standardize the restorations.
The materials were manipulated, and the cavities were restored in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. The dental blocks were stored for 24 h at 37°C in a 100% humid environment at the conclusion of the restorative procedure, and the blocks were polished using a sequence of aluminum oxide disks (Sof-Lex, 3 M ESPE, St. Paul, MN, USA).

The research material was prepared using six cements frequently applied in the subgingival region: Glass Ionomer Cements: Ketac Fil Plus (3M ESPE, Seefeld, Germany), Riva Self Cure (SDI, Australia), Resin-based Cement: Breeze (Pentron Clinical, Wallingford, CT, USA), Zinc polycarboxylate cements: Adhesor Carbofine (Pentron, Chodov, Czech Republic), Harvard Polycarboxylat Cement (Harvard Dental, Great Britain), Zinc Phosphate Cement: Agatos S (Chema-Elektromet, Poland). The cements were prepared in the form of 0.7 cm × 0.7 cm cubes based on a matrix made of the plastic presented in Figure 2. The materials were prepared in line with the manufacturers’ recommendations and then sterilized with ethylene oxide gas. The 2.5 h EOG sterilization cycle was performed at 55 °C, and then the research material was subjected to a 12 h degassing process.