Restorative & Materials · single question
Which advantage is MOST associated with glass ionomer cement (GIC)?
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Correct answer: A. Hydrophilicity and chemical bonding to tooth structure
- A. Correct. GIC is hydrophilic (moisture-tolerant) and chemically bonds to calcium in tooth structure (enamel and dentin) via ion exchange without requiring bonding agents. It also releases fluoride for caries prevention.
- B. GIC has opaque, somewhat chalky esthetics; composite resin far surpasses GIC in esthetic properties.
- C. GIC has a relatively high coefficient of thermal expansion compared to tooth structure, which can be a disadvantage.
- D. GIC has moderate compressive strength (inferior to amalgam or composite); high compressive strength is not its distinguishing advantage.
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