Bonding efficacy of erythritol methacrylate solutions as dentin primers

The bonding efficacy of aqueous solutions of two kinds of erythritol methacrylates as dentin primers was examined by measurement of the polymerization contraction gap of a light-activated resin composite in a cylindrical dentin cavity and the tensile bond strength of the composite to the flat dentin surface. The dentin surface was cleaned with neutralized 0.5 mol/L EDTA and pre-treated with a meso-erythritol or penta-erythritol methacrylate solution, followed by application of a commercial dentin bonding agent (Clearfil New Bond) and a resin composite. Among the tested primers, a 40% meso-erythritol methacrylate solution was shown to be the most effective because, in contrast to the other primers, contraction gap formation by the composite was prevented in all tested specimens.