DentStat™ as a Novel Interim Restorative Resin Modified Glass Ionomer

Background: Glass-ionomers have been developed as direct dental restorative materials that may be utilized for a number of clinical purposes. They are composed of strontium aluminofluoro-silicate glass powder (base) combined with a water-soluble polymer (acid). When mixed together, they undergo a hardening reaction that involves neutralization of the acid groups by the powdered glass base.  The U.S. Navy developed DentStat™ to serve as a self-setting resin modified glass ionomer (RMGI) interim restorative material that could be placed by corpsmen/medics in battlefield conditions with no special equipment required.

Objective: To determine if DentStat™ has physical properties comparable to other glass ionomers and would be suitable as an interim restorative material in military settings.

Methods: DentStat™ was compared against three commercially available RMGIs (Fuji II™ LC, Vitremer™ and UltraCem™) and one traditional glass ionomer (Fuji IX™ GP). The flexural strength, flexural modulus and compressive strength of DentStat™ and the other materials (n=10/material group) were compared using a material properties universal testing machine (MTS Insight, Eden Prairie, MN).

Results: DentStat™ had higher flexural strength compared with the other glass ionomers or resin modified glass ionomers evaluated. The strength percentages ranged from 16% ~ 236%.  The flexural strength of DentStat™ was significantly greater (p ≤ 0.05) against all materials except for Fuji II™ LC. In the case of compressive strength, DentStat^TM showed 40~105% higher values than Fuji II™ LC, Fuji IX™ GP, Vitremer™ and UltraCem™ (p ≤ 0.05). DentStat™ demonstrated a 160%, 47%, and 152% higher flexural modulus compared with Fuji II™ LC, Vitremer™, and UltraCem™ respectively (p ≤ 0.05). Only Fuji IX GP had a higher flexural modulus value than DentStat™ (107%).

Conclusions:  Based on initial testing, DentStat™ demonstrated physical properties in line with other commercially available glass ionomers cements and may serve as an interim restorative material in remote military settings.