Bond strength between dentin and restorative resins mediated by mixtures of HEMA and glutaraldehyde

We investigated the bond strength between restorative resin and dentin pre-treated with mixtures of HEMA and glutaraldehyde. It is suggested that the mixture acts by forming a chemical bond of HEMA molecules to a collagen-glutaraldehyde reaction complex. Subsequently applied resin will then co-polymerize with the collagen-linked methacrylate groups. Statistical analysis of the results from varying mixtures of HEMA and glutaraldehyde revealed that the bond strength was highly dependent on the HEMA concentration, with a maximum at 35%, and nearly independent of the glutaraldehyde concentration when greater than 3%. The highest mean bond strength was about 1.8 kg/mm2, and bond strength of this order of size may be attractive for clinical use.