The Effect of Magnesium Oxide Nanoparticles on the Setting Time and Properties of Glass-Ionomer Cement

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of adding magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles to glass-ionomer cement (GIC) on setting time, hardness, fluoride release, and antibacterial properties. This study was conducted on GIC GC Gold Label 9 Extra Shade A3 (GC Corporation, Japan) without addition as the control group and with the addition of MgO nanoparticles at 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2% (w/w) ratios. The data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software. The addition of MgO nanoparticles increased the setting time significantly (P<0.05). However, only GIC with less than 1.5% MgO nanoparticles remained within the ISO 9917-1 (2007) limits. Furthermore, the addition of 1.5% MgO nanoparticles to GIC significantly increased its hardness (P<0.05). Glass-ionomer cement containing 1.5% MgO nanoparticles exhibited the most significant of fluoride ion release (P<0.05). Magnesium oxide nanoparticles at concentrations up to 2% could not impart antibacterial properties to GIC. The characteristics of the modified product were affected by the concentration of MgO nanoparticles as well as the composition of the GIC. Further research is required with concentrations of MgO nanoparticles between 1% and 1.5% to improve GIC characteristics, but the setting time is still within the standard range of ISO 9917.