What is the best cleaning agent for a cavity before GIC placement?

The optimal cleaning agent for a cavity prior to the placement of Glass Ionomer Cement (GIC) is polyacrylic acid. This substance is particularly effective in preparing the tooth surface because it has a dual role: it not only cleans but also conditions the dentin and enamel surfaces.

Polyacrylic acid helps to remove the smear layer that forms on the dental surfaces during cavity preparation without damaging the underlying dentin. Additionally, it effectively enhances the adhesion of GIC to the tooth structure, thereby improving the overall bond strength and longevity of the restoration. This is especially important for GICs, which are more sensitive to the substrate conditions than other materials.

While other agents such as phosphoric acid are used for enamel etching in conjunction with resin-based materials, it can be overly aggressive for GIC preparation, potentially compromising the bonding capability due to excessive loss of dentin or enamel. H2O2 and sodium hypochlorite, although useful in certain dental applications, are not specifically suited for cleaning a cavity prior to GIC placement. Sodium hypochlorite, for instance, is primarily an antibacterial agent rather than a cleaning or conditioning agent for adhesive procedures. Thus, polyacrylic acid stands out as the most