Shear bond strength of dental amalgam bonded to dentin

The objective of this study was to determine the shear bond strength of dental amalgam bonded to dentin with adhesives. Four groups of 15 permanent posterior teeth were used in this study. The occlusal enamel of the teeth was removed to produce a flat dentin surface. The teeth were embedded in phenolic rings with acrylic resin. Vinyl polysiloxane ring molds 4 mm thick with 4.5 mm circular openings were attached to the exposed dentin surface. Adhesives applied to the dentin surfaces prior to amalgam placement and condensation included: Amalgambond, a 4-META/TBB-MMA, HEMA based system (A), Panavia EX, a modified phosphate ester of Bis-GMA luting system (P), and Ketac-Cem, a glass ionomer luting cement (K). A dentin bonding agent and composite resin restoration system (Scotchbond 2/Silux Plus) was included for comparison. The specimens were stored in 37 degrees C water for 7 days prior to testing. Shear bond tests were done in an Instron machine at a crosshead speed of 0.02 inches per minute. The data were analyzed by ANOVA at 5% level of significance. The differences in shear bond strengths of the four test groups were not statistically significant (P = 0.115). Fracture patterns of the bonded amalgams, examined by SEM, were adhesive in appearance for Groups A and K and cohesive for Group P.