Randomized Clinical Trial of ART Class II Restorations Using Two Glass Ionomer Cements: One-Year Follow-Up.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the survival rate of ART (atraumatic restorative treatment) Class II restorations in primary teeth, performed with glass carbomer cement and a high-viscosity glass ionomer cement, after 12 months.

METHODS: One pediatric dentist placed 59 Class II ART restorations in 33 children (eight plus/minus two years old) of both genders. Two calibrated examiners, blinded to the type of material and not involved in the placement, evaluated the restorations at baseline, six, and 12 months.

RESULTS: The overall success rate (95 percent confidence interval) at the six-month follow-up for the GP Glass Fill and Equia Fil was 69 percent (51 to 83) and 83 percent (66 to 93), respectively. No significant difference was detected between the study groups (Fisher's exact test, P=0.20). However, at 12 months, the overall success rates of both materials were 56 percent (37 to 73) and 86 percent (69 to 94), and this difference was statistically significant (Fisher's exact test, P=0.03).

CONCLUSION: Class II ART restorations with glass carbomer showed lower survival rates after 12 months compared to those with high-viscosity glass ionomer cement.