J. Tinschert*, M. Wilke, M. Esser, J. Paulzen and R. Marx (Lehr- und Forschungsbereich für zahnärztliche Werkstoffkunde, Klinik für zahnärztliche Prothetik der Medizinischen Fakultät der RWTH Aachen)
Bonding agents are indispensable for clinical application of composite and all ceramic restaurations. They are also useful to protect the pulpa-dentin wound, to prevent post-operative complains and to increase the fracture strengths of all ceramic restaurations and of the remaining tooth substance. In several studies, however, it was reported that the durability of the present dentin bonding systems with new concepts promise that a better long-term bond stability may be possible in future.
It was the aim of the present study to investigate the bond strength and the long-term bond stability of recent dentin bonding systems, especially of the new "one bottle"-systems. Due to the analogous properties of human and bovine dentin, specimens of bovine dentin were examined. The bond strengths of the bonded specimens were determined before and after storage in a corrosive bath similar to oral conditions. The results of the fracture test showed that the initial bond strengths of the investigated dentin bonding agents were sufficient and are nearly equal to those of the enamel-composite bond strength. The long-term bond stability under corrosive conditions, however, seems to be still insufficient.