GC America markets GC Fuji Ortho and GC Fuji Ortho LC orthodontic cements for the luting of orthodontic brackets and bands. GC Fuji Ortho is an auto-cure resin-modified glass-ionomer cement while GC Fuji Ortho LC is a resin-modified glass-ionomer cement that is cured by visible light activation. The manufacturer claims these products bond chemically to tooth structure and release fluoride. Both products are advertised as bonding to porcelain and metal. The cements' fluoride release is purported to prevent caries formation and protect against "white spot" decalcification marks. Also, both products are said to exhibit low sensitivity to moisture contamination; in fact, GC America claims that the bond to tooth structure improves with moisture. Furthermore, these products are said to be able to bond orthodontic brackets with a non-etch technique. However, both products are purportedly compatible with polyacrylic acid conditioning or with phosphoric acid etching of enamel, if the clinician wishes to use them. Both cements are in powder/liquid form. Fuji Ortho LC is available in bulk form (ie, bottle of powder and bottle of liquid) and in capsules. Fuji Ortho is only sold in bulk form. GC America claims that, after completion of treatment, it is easier to debond orthodontic appliances that have been luted with either of the two cements than it is to debond them if they had been luted with a resin cement. As a result, there is said to be less potential for damaging the enamel during debonding.
GC Fuji Ortho and GC Fuji Ortho LC are resin-modified glass-ionomer orthodontic luting cements that offer conventional auto-cure and visible light-cure capabilities as well as the flexibility of hand-mixed and precapsulated delivery systems. Clinical evaluators found these materials to be simple to use and easy to integrate into their existing clinical technique. The metal application gun made it easier to place precapsulated material. The products appeared to provide acceptable clinical bond strength. Users found that the GC Fuji Ortho cements bonded to tooth structure without acid etching or conditioning. The cements provided good bonding even in moist environments, and it was easy to remove appliances and clean up residual cement. Evaluators did not notice any caries or "white-spot" decalcification lesion formation during the evaluation, possibly because these cements release fluoride. Written instructions were readable with adequate detail and technique description, and the educational video in the Introductory Kit had excellent technique descriptions. The packaging configuration was excellent.
Although bond strength was apparently acceptable, a debonding rate of three percent was reported during this evaluation when no etching or conditioning was done. Clinical users also found that the initial viscosity allowed some “bracket creep.”
This review has been adapted from the DECS website. The DECS has no formal association with Dentalcompare or with vendors listed on dentalcompare.com. The DECS does not specifically endorse any particular product or vendor and is provided for informational purposes only.
