Calixto LR, Tonetto MR, Pinto SCS, Barros ED, Borges AH, Lima FVP, de 
Andrade MF, Bandeca MC. Degree of Conversion and Hardness of Two 
Different Systems of the Vitrebond™ Glass Ionomer Cement Light Cured 
with Blue LED. J Contemp Dent Pract 2013;14(2): 244-249.  
Abstract
This study investigated the 
physicochemical properties of the new formulation of the glass ionomer 
cements through hardness test and degree of conversion by infrared 
spectroscopy (FTIR). Forty specimens (n = 40) were made in a metallic 
mold (4 mm diameter x 2 mm thickness) with two resin-modified glass 
ionomer cements, Vitrebond™ and Vitrebond™ Plus (3M/ ESPE). Each 
specimen was light cured with blue LED with power density of 500 
mW/cm(2) during 30 s. Immediately after light curing, 24h, 48h and 7 
days the hardness and degree of conversion was determined. The Vickers 
hardness was performed by the MMT-3 microhardness tester using load of 
50 gm force for 30 seconds. For degree of conversion, the specimens were
 pulverized, pressed with KBr and analyzed with FT-IR (Nexus 470). The 
statistical analysis of the data by ANOVA showed that the Vitrebond™ and
 Vitrebond™ Plus were no difference significant between the same storage
 times (p > 0.05). For degree of conversion, the Vitrebond™ and 
Vitrebond™ Plus were statistically different in all storage times after 
light curing. The Vitrebond™ showed higher values than Vitrebond™ Plus 
(p < 0.05). The performance of Vitrebond™ had greater results for 
degree of conversion than Vitrebond™ Plus. The correlation between 
hardness and degree of conversion was no evidence in this study. 
 
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