Efficacy of glyceryl methacrylate as a dentin primer

The efficacy of pretreatment on the dentin surface with an aqueous solution of glyceryl methacrylate (GM) was examined by measuring the wall-to-wall polymerization contraction of a light activated composite in a cylindrical dentin cavity, and by measuring the tensile bond strength to a flat dentin surface. All of the tested dentin surfaces were cleaned with neutralized 0.5 M EDTA and treated with experimental primers, followed by a marketed dentin bonding agent and composite. The contraction gap formation of the composite was completely prevented by the application of the GM solution at concentrations of 25 and 35% in water. In contrast, half of the specimens treated with 35% HEMA and 35% HEMA containing 5% glutaraldehyde showed gap formation. Furthermore, a considerably high tensile bond strength of more than 18MPa was observed in the above described dentin bonding system.