Best restorative material for root caries due to dry mouth?

Best restorative material for root caries due to dry mouth?

• A. Amalgam
• B. Glass Ionomer Cement
• C. Composite
• D. Gold

Answer: (B)

When treating root caries in a patient with xerostomia, the material that best supports the exposed dentin and helps prevent progression is one that releases fluoride, bonds chemically to tooth tissue, and tolerates some moisture during placement. Glass ionomer cement fits these needs: it continuously releases fluoride, which provides a cariostatic effect in a low-saliva environment, it bonds chemically to dentin and cementum helping seal dentinal tubules, and it is more forgiving of moisture than resin composites. In contrast, amalgam and gold don’t provide fluoride release and require a dry field, while composites demand excellent isolation and can have greater marginal leakage at root surfaces. This combination of fluoride release, adhesion, and moisture tolerance makes glass ionomer cement the best choice in this scenario.

When treating root caries in a patient with xerostomia, the material that best supports the exposed dentin and helps prevent progression is one that releases fluoride, bonds chemically to tooth tissue, and tolerates some moisture during placement. Glass ionomer cement fits these needs: it continuously releases fluoride, which provides a cariostatic effect in a low-saliva environment, it bonds chemically to dentin and cementum helping seal dentinal tubules, and it is more forgiving of moisture than resin composites. In contrast, amalgam and gold don’t provide fluoride release and require a dry field, while composites demand excellent isolation and can have greater marginal leakage at root surfaces. This combination of fluoride release, adhesion, and moisture tolerance makes glass ionomer cement the best choice in this scenario.