Development of self-etching primer comprised of methacrylamide, N-methacryloyl glycine

In order to develop a more effective self-etching primer, it is helpful to understand how a functional monomer conditions the surface of the teeth. In this study, the reactivity by the carboxylic acid in the N-methacryloyl glycine (NMGly) on the calcium phosphate in hydroxyapatite or dentin was studied. The efficacy of the NMGly as a functional monomer for a self-etching primer was then examined. Applying NMGly to both the enamel and dentin resulted in an increase in the bond strength of resin, since the carboxylic acid in the NMGly decalcified the calcium phosphate in the hydroxyapatite and dentin. The bond strength to dentin achieved was higher than with the enamel. This difference was most likely due to different enamel and dentin adhesion mechanisms.