Which material is MOST appropriate for restoring a cervical root caries lesion in an elderly patient with high caries risk and reduced salivary flow?

Correct answer: A. Glass ionomer cement

• A. Correct. GLASS IONOMER is the material of choice for root caries. It bonds chemically to dentin and cementum without requiring perfect isolation, tolerates moisture far better than resin (critical at a subgingival cervical margin), releases FLUORIDE continuously to protect the adjacent root surface, and has a coefficient of thermal expansion close to tooth structure. In a xerostomic high-caries-risk patient the fluoride release is the decisive advantage.
• B. Composite requires dry field isolation that is very difficult to achieve at a subgingival cervical margin, and it releases no fluoride.
• C. Zinc oxide-eugenol is a provisional material with inadequate strength and wear resistance for a definitive restoration.
• D. A crown is unnecessarily destructive for an isolated cervical lesion and does not address the underlying caries risk.