Aluminum oxalate/glycine solutions as pretreatment in the Gluma bonding system

Dentin and enamel surfaces were treated with solutions of aluminum oxalate (AO), the pH of which was adjusted by glycine. Gluma as well as an enamel bonding agent were applied to the surfaces before the placement of a composite resin. On shear bond testing, there was obtained a strong adhesion that was influenced by the pH of the AO solutions. Dentin and enamel specimens for examination by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were also prepared and treated as above. Enamel specimens showed a very definite etching pattern, and on the dentin surfaces a precipitate was observed. The amount of this product seemed to decrease as the pH increased.