Phosphoric acid and various transition metal salt solutions as a combined etchant and activator prior to the use of an anaerobic adhesive

Objectives. The objectives of this experiment were to determine whether various transition metal salts in 37% o-phosphoric acid could both activate and etch an enamel surface prior to the use of an anaerobic adhesive. Method. Stainless steel attachments were bonded to human enamel using an anaerobic adhesive. In each case, the enamel was etched and activated using a solution of 37% o-phosphoric acid containing various transition metal sulfates and chlorides. After bench curing, the specimens were shear bond tested to failure and the load at debond recorded in each case. Results. The results were analyzed using mean force to debond (N) and 95% confidence intervals. Kaplan–Meier survival probabilities and log-rank tests were also performed. Conclusions. Under the conditions of this experiment, the sulfate and chloride of copper in acid were the most effective etching/activating solutions. There was no significant difference in the mean force to debond between the copper (II) sulfate and copper (II) chloride. The chloride in acid was, however, the only one of the two to produce a conventional etch pattern on the surface of the enamel. Significance. It is possible to render the enamel surface both retentive and active towards anaerobic adhesives, such that relatively unreactive substrates can be bonded to enamel using such adhesives.