ABSTRACT
With glass-ionomer cements as with all dental materials, the dental assistant plays an important part in correct handling and clinical success. This chapter is therefore designed to help the dental assistant to understand the handling requirements of the glassionomers. As all the materials in this category are essentially the same from a chemical point of view, they can all be discussed under the same headings. There is nothing particularly difficult in their storage, dispensing or mixing; but precision and understanding are a necessary part of good dental assisting, and the following points should always be observed when handling the glass-ionomers.
