Self-Etching Enamel Bonding Using Acidic Functional Monomers with Different-length Carbon Chains and Hydrophilicity

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Adhesive Dentistry
• Biomaterials

Background:

• Two-step self-etch adhesives are widely used in restorative dentistry.
• The chemical structure of functional monomers influences adhesive performance.
• Optimizing enamel bonding is crucial for long-term restoration success.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the enamel bonding performance of commercial and experimental two-step self-etch adhesives.
• To investigate the effect of functional monomer spacer chain length and hydrophilicity on enamel adhesion.
• To evaluate the wettability of tested adhesives through contact angle measurements.

Main Methods:

• Five adhesives were tested on human molar enamel: Clearfil SE Bond (CSE), AdheSE (ADSE), 10-MDP, CAP-P, and MTEP.
• Microshear bond strength (μSBS) was measured after 24 hours.
• Contact angle, SEM, and CLSM were used to analyze wettability and etching patterns.

Main Results:

• 10-MDP demonstrated the highest μSBS, followed by CAP-P and CSE.
• ADSE and MTEP showed the lowest bond strengths.
• Adhesives with longer, more hydrophobic monomers (10-MDP, CAP-P) exhibited better etching and deeper penetration.

Conclusions:

• Functional monomer properties significantly impact enamel bonding performance.
• Longer and more hydrophobic spacer chains in functional monomers correlate with enhanced enamel bond strength.
• 10-MDP and CAP-P show promising potential for improved enamel adhesion in dental adhesives.