Influence of different factors on bond strength of hybrid ionomers

A new generation of filling materials, the hybrid-ionomer cements, has been introduced recently. In many clinical situations these hybrid ionomers may be an alternative to conventional glass-ionomer cements and resins bonded with dentin bonding agents. During the past years research has focused on factors influencing bond strength of dentin bonding systems, but there is not much knowledge about the bond strength of hybrid- and glass-ionomer filling materials under different conditions. Bond strengths of four hybrid ionomers, one conventional glass-ionomer cement, and one cermet cement were determined in superficial and deep, dry and moist dentin using a simplified pulp chamber model. All materials showed significantly higher bond strength to superficial compared to deep dentin. Moisture showed no significant influence on any material neither in deep nor in superficial dentin. Bond strengths of Fuji II LC, Variglass, and Vitremer were distinctly higher than those of the conventional glass-ionomer cement (Ketac-Fil) and the cermet cement (Ketac-Silver), while that of Photac-Fil was not significantly different. Ionomer samples failed cohesively in superficial dentin in over 60% of the samples. The bonding interfaces between Fuji II LC and Variglass and the treated dentin surface showed tags but no distinct hybrid layer. Bond strength is not only dependent on the pretreatment of the dentin, but also on the glass-ionomer resin composition of the material.