Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy Analysis of Stains Incorporated in Fluoroaluminosilicate Glass Cements: An <i>In Vitro</i> Study

Objectives The timely management of decayed lesions in teeth significantly contributes to the preservation of oral health. Individuals exhibiting minimal or inadequate adherence to home care protocols often exhibit dental fear. Encouraging these patients to undergo effective treatment poses challenges due to their reluctance to do so. Utilising multi-hued restorations represents a potential strategy for incentivising their engagement in treatment. Fluoroaluminosilicate glass particles are the most suitable and minimally technique-sensitive material, which are most often utilised in minimally invasive (MI) dentistry or atraumatic restorative treatment procedures (ART). There is no scientific evidence of colour incorporation in Fluoroaluminosilicate glass particles, which would be an ideal material for use in the above procedures. Hence, there is a need to investigate this further. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is a widely recognised method used in the identification and structural analysis of chemical compounds. Its capacity for assessing active functional groups within diverse materials suggests the potential for it to emerge as a crucial tool for quantitative analysis. The objective is to study quantitative analysis of the physical properties of the material after incorporating colour using FTIR analysis, and the effect of colour additives on the setting time of the cement. Material and Methods A total of 20 samples were mixed manually and split into four different groups. FTIR analysis was performed to analyse the change in the active functional group. Results The results showed that the addition of a colouring agent resulted in a change in the active functional group, which affected the setting time. Conclusion The addition of colour to glass ionomer cement (GIC) resulted in a change in the FTIR Graph in all groups, in the IR spectral range of 1638 and 1319 cm-1. The brilliant green dye (G2) showed minimal changes in the graph.