Laboratory evaluation of the Gluma 3-step bonding system

To determine in vitro (1) the shear bond strengths (SBS) of the modified Gluma system to enamel and dentin; (2) the qualitative and the quantitative microleakage (ML) of Class V preparations on the cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) and in dentin, respectively, restored with the Gluma system; and (3) the effect of the system's components on enamel and dentin by scanning electron microscopy.

Seventy-five extracted human maxillary permanent central incisors and 75 permanent first and second molars were embedded in brass tooth cups with cold-cure acrylic resin. The facial surfaces of the anterior and the occlusal surfaces of the molar teeth were ground wet on 180- followed by 600-grit silicon carbide paper. Demarcated sites on the surfaces were treated according to the manufacturer's instructions and Pekafill composite was bonded to the treated surfaces. Fifteen specimens prepared on enamel were removed 1 minute after cure (A) and the SBS determined. The remaining specimens were removed 15 minutes after final cure, stored in saline at 37 degrees C for 24 hours (B), for 1 week without (C) and with temperature cycling (D), and for 4 weeks (E). Similar regimens were used for dentin, groups F, G, H, I and J. The SBS were determined and expressed in MPa. The data were analyzed by ANOVA, Student-Newman-Keuls and t-tests. For the qualitative ML evaluation, Class V cavities were prepared on the CEJ of 30 human premolars and restored with Gluma/Pekafill. After thermocycling in 0.5% basic fuchsin, the teeth were sectioned and ranked according to the degree of microleakage. Class V cavities were prepared on the facial root surfaces of 15 human premolars and restored. The ML was determined quantitatively by a spectrophotometric dye-recovery method and expressed as microgram dye/restoration.

The mean +/- SD of the SBS in MPa were: A: 14.6 +/- 2.2; B: 21.2 +/- 1.6; C: 20.5 +/- 1.4; D: 24.2 +/- 2.0; E: 22.8 +/- 3.7; F: 7.0 +/- 2.0; G: 16.1 +/- 4.0; H: 15.6 +/- 3.7; I: 10.9 +/- 3.3; J: 14.4 +/- 3.3. The quantitative ML was 1.00 +/- 0.39 microgram dye/restoration. The lowest SBS were obtained on specimens tested after 1 minute. Temperature cycling had a significantly adverse effect on the SBS to dentin (P = 0.0003). Etch patterns conducive to bonding were produced on the enamel. The resin system penetrated into the dentin tubules.