[Glass ionomer cement and dentin: effect of pretreatment with polyacrylic acid]

This investigation measured the effect of polyacrylic acid treatment of dentin on adhesion of glass ionomer cement. The dentin was ground on paper No. 220 or No. 500 and treated with a polyacrylic acid solution of 10% or 25% for either 10 s or 30 s. The differences observed in the scanning electron microscope between the differently treated dentin surfaces were not reflected in the bond strength results. Only differences in surface texture due to different coarseness of grinding influenced the adhesion. As to specimens ground on paper No. 220, pretreatment with polyacrylic acid enhanced adhesion of glass ionomer cement. No effect of polyacrylic acid was found on bonding between glass ionomer cement and dentin ground on paper No. 500.