Adhesion to dentin and physical properties of a light-cured glass-ionomer liner/base

The objective of this study was to determine the adhesion to dentin and the physical properties of Vitrabond Light Cure Glass Ionomer Liner/Base and to compare these values with those of a conventional material, 3M Glass Ionomer Liner (3MGI). Shear bond strengths to bovine dentin after 24 h in distilled water were determined to be 12 +/- 3 MPa for Vitrabond Liner/Base, while for 3MGI, bond strengths were 4 +/- 2 MPa. The failure mode was cohesive in dentin or the ionomer. Immediate adhesion of the light-cured material was also significantly higher than that of the conventional glass-ionomer liner. Thermal cycling experiments showed that the bond of Vitrabond Liner/Base to dentin was a stable one. Adhesion studies carried out on human dentin showed high adhesion values as well. Compressive and diametral tensile strengths for Vitrabond Liner/Base were determined immediately after light curing and also after storage in water for 24 h, one week, one month, and seven months. There was no significant difference in the values of compressive and diametral tensile strengths obtained immediately after curing and after extended storage in water at 37 degrees C.