A study of bonding glass polyalkenoate cement to the surface of dental ceramic material

The aim of this study was to compare the bonding of chemically-cured glass ionomer (polyalkenoate) cement (CGIC) and resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RGIC) to a ground ceramic surface (n = 6 per group). The ceramic surface was left untreated or treated with either commercial dental porcelain primer or with heat-cured gammamethacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane solution (MPS), which was used as a reference treatment for good adhesion. Bonding was measured using a modified three-point loading test for the test specimen loaded at the interface of the cement and the ceramic. The adhesive fracture surfaces were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The most effective adhesion of the CGIC and RGIC specimens was found when the ceramic specimens had been treated with heat-cured MPS, whereas slightly lower adhesion was found by the treatment of ceramic specimens with a commercial porcelain primer. Poorest adhesion was found between CGIC and untreated ceramic. The number of adhesive failures was high in all CGIC groups, while no adhesive failures were observed between MPS treated ceramic and RGIC. This study encourages the of use porcelain primers when good bonding between glass ionomer cement and dental ceramic material is required.