Resin bonding efficacy of Gluma 2000 to dentine of primary teeth: an in vitro study

The aim of this study was to investigate (i) the effect of Gluma 2000 conditioning solution on the dentine of primary teeth, (ii) the penetration of Gluma 2000 adhesive resin into the etched dentine, (iii) the shear bond strength of a composite resin restorative material (Pekafill) bonded with Gluma 2000 to dentine, and (iv) the depth of penetration of adhesive resin into the etched dentine as a function of the conditioning time. Dentine surfaces conditioned for 15, 30, 60 and 120 seconds were examined by scanning electron microscopy. The smear layer was totally removed and, with the longer conditioning times, a fine crystalline precipitation, presumably calcium oxalate, was formed. After Gluma 2000 bonding of composite resin and dissolution of the teeth the resin interface showed excellent penetration into the etched dentine. Shear bond strengths of composite resin bonded with the adhesive resin were similar following conditioning for 15, 30, 60 and 120 seconds. Microphotographs of debonded specimens indicated that the mode of failure was cohesive within the resin. The depth of penetration of resin into etched dentine was determined by scanning electron microscopy, and a linear relationship was found between the thickness of the resin-impregnated layer and conditioning time. It was therefore concluded that depth of resin penetration and shear bond strength are not correlated. The study shows that the Gluma 2000 bonding system produces reliable adhesion of composite resin to dentine of primary teeth.