A comparative evaluation of fracture toughness, flexural strength, and acid buffer capability of a bulk‑fill alkasite with high‑strength glass‑ionomer cement: An in vitro study

Abstract

Background: Although glass‑ionomer cement (GIC) has many unique properties and advantages,
it still lacks favorable mechanical properties. Cention N is a recent alkasite material with excellent
mechanical properties. The purpose of this study was to compare the mechanical properties (fracture
toughness [FT] and flexural strength [FS]) and acid buffer capability of an alkasite material to GIC.
Materials and Methods: In this in vitro study, a total of 60 samples were prepared using Cention
N or GIC. Twenty specimens (n = 10) were prepared using beam‑shaped Teflon molds for FS, and
twenty specimens (n = 10) were prepared with a similar mold with a notch for FT. These were
evaluated on a universal testing machine using a three‑point bend test. Twenty (n = 10) disk‑shaped
specimens were prepared for acid buffer capability. The samples were stored in distilled water for a
week. This was followed by immersion in lactic acid with a pH of 4 for calculation of the materials
acid buffering capacity at 30 and 60 min from exposure using a pH meter. The data obtained were
tabulated and subjected to Kolmogorov–Smirnov test and Shapiro–Wilk test to assess the normal
distribution and further analyzed using the Student’s t‑test to assess the level of significance, P < 0.05
was considered statistically significant.
Results: The mean FT, FS, and acid buffer capability of Cention N were significantly higher than
GIC at P < 0.05.
Conclusion: The present study surmised that Cention N exhibited higher FT, FS, and acid buffer
capability than GIC.
Key Words: Buffering capacity, Cention N, flexural strength, glass‑ionomer cement,
mechanical property