Methods: In this study GC Fuji TRIAGE™ was compared to a conventional glass ionomer cement GC Fuji II™, both from GC Europe. Both glass ionomers were mixed according to the manufacturers' instructions and thin flat disks of 10 mm diameter × 1 mm thick were formed. The specimens were placed for 24 hours in an atmosphere with a relative humidity of 100% at 37 °C. Then, they were immersed in 10 ml of one of the following media at 37 °C: Distilled water (pH 5.7), as a control, citric acid (pH 3.75) and lactic acid (pH 4.00). Five specimens of each glass ionomer cement material were prepared for each of the three media. Each media was changed every 24 hours over the 60-day period of the study based upon the results of a pilot study. Before changing the solution, the glass ionomer cement specimens were weighed to an accuracy of ± 0.1 mg. The pH of each medium was also recorded using a pH meter SevenGo pro™ (from Mettler Toledo).
Results: Immersion in citric acid caused a 7.49 ± 0.56% (6.88% - 8.39%) weight loss for the Fuji Triage™ and a 3.99 ± 0.12% (3.82% - 4.11%) weight loss for Fuji II™. There was no difference in the weight loss in lactic acid between the two materials. Fuji Triage™ increased the pH of both acids significantly more than Fuji II™.
Conclusion: Although Fuji Triage™ buffers the acids more rapidly than the conventional glass ionomer; the rate of dissolution is much higher which may cause marginal degradation and early loss of material.