Glass ionomer cements and dental pulp

Abstract

Only slight pulp reactions to glass ionomer cements occurred when inserted in Class V cavities of dog teeth. Most inflammatory reactions were due to bacteria at the tooth/filling interface. Special dentin reactions were noted in almost half the teeth, including hematoxyphilic bands in the dentin and a disturbance of the mineralization pattern of predentin. The clinical significance of these dentin reactions is not known.