Press release
GC EQUIA
New 4-year study proves superiority within class
The glass-ionomer-based filling concept GC EQUIA recently demonstrated its advantages over a composite in a 4-year study, published by the Hacettepe University, Ankara. Now another longitudinal study shows the concept’s superiority in its own material class: A group of researchers at the University of Greifswald headed by Professor Reiner Biffar compared EQUIA with a conventional glass-ionomer cement (GIC) over a period of 48 months. The group came to the conclusion that EQUIA, when used for the indications approved by the manufacturer, offers better overall performance – especially in class II cavities when compared to conventional GIC.
EQUIA meets the demands of restorative therapy of the future already today – a minimally invasive treatment approach, economic restorative procedures, sustainable materials. GC, a family-owned Japanese manufacturer, keeps demonstrating this in studies commissioned around the globe, consistently underlining the efficiency of their innovative glass-ionomer-based approach. The broad range of approved applications speaks for itself: According to the manufacturer’s recommendations, EQUIA is approved for class I restorations, non-stress-bearing class II restorations and, in addition, occlusally loaded class II restorations (assuming the isthmus occupies less than half the intercuspal space).
Recent results from an extensive study of materials within this class of glass ionomers have confirmed that EQUIA is superior to the conventional GIC Fuji IX GP Fast (GC) over a period of four years. Adhering strictly to the FDI’s criteria for the evaluation of restorative materials, the research team of Professor Reiner Biffar (Ernst Moritz Arndt University of Greifswald, Germany) examined the clinical performance of EQUIA – consisting of the EQUIA Fil glass-ionomer component and the EQUIA Coat nano-filled composite coating – and compared it to Fuji IX GP Fast in combination with a light-curing coating (Fuji Coat LC, GC).[1] A total of 515 fillings with EQUIA and 486 with Fuji IX GP Fast were placed and their aesthetic, functional, biological and other parameters examined over a period of four years.
The results were positive throughout: Both materials performed convincingly in restoring class I cavities. With regard to restorations of class II cavities, the researchers found sixteen fractures with Fuji IX GP, but this compared with only seven with EQUIA. The likelihood ratios in random intercept models showed a protective treatment effect for EQUIA compared to Fuji IX GP Fast, if used in a manufacturer-approved indication. Within this range of indications, however, EQUIA showed better performance and also lower failure rates for class II restorations compared to Fuji IX GP Fast at all recall appointments.
Thus, EQUIA once more provides compelling arguments regarding its outstanding product characteristics – clinically proven and scientifically sound. As recently as in the autumn of 2014, a research team led by Professor SevilGurgan (Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey) has published the four-year results of a study[2] documenting the performance of EQUIA restorations in posterior cavities compared to a composite restorative. The retention rate for EQUIA after 48 months was 100% for class I restorations and 92.3% for class II restorations.
No significant differences between EQUIA and composite fillings were found over the entire study period in terms of anatomical shape, colour, changes in surface textures, postoperative sensitivity, or, importantly, with regard to the development of secondary caries. The researchers concluded that in class I and class II cavities, the EQUIA system demonstrated very good performance over a period of four years, without any significant differences from the composite fillings studied. With proven performance even over protracted study periods, this state-of-the-art restorative concept once again confirms the manufacturer’s tagline for this product: EQUIA – the future begins now!
More information about GC EQUIA is available at
GC Europe N.V.GC / IDS 2015 stand:
Interleuvenlaan 33Hall: 11.2
3001 LeuvenAisle: N/O
Tel: +32.16.74.10.00Stand: 10/19, 20/29
Fax:+32.16.74.11.99
Press contact:
dNA – dentale Nachrichten-Agentur GmbH
Kapersburgweg 5
61350 Bad Homburg
Tel. +49.6172.68.04.00
Fax. +49.6172.68.04.020
[1]Biffar R, Klinke T, Daboul A, Frankenberger R, Hickel R (2015): 48 months clinical performance of two current glass-ionomer systems in a field study. Abstract Nr. 0039, ConsEuro2015.
[2]Gurgan S, Kütük ZB, Ergin E, Öztaş SS, Cakır FY (2014): Four-year randomized clinical trial to evaluate the clinical performance of a glass ionomer restorative system. Oper Dent. In print. DOI 10.2341/13-239-C