Bonding efficacy and interfacial microstructure between resin and dentine primed with glyceryl methacrylate

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of two experimental primers based on glyceryl methacrylate (GM, 2,3-dihydroxypropyl methacrylate) and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (2-HEMA) on the marginal adaptation of light-cured composite placed into cylindrical dentine cavities and to study the interfacial microstructure. Methods: The bonding efficacy of two experimental dentine primers combined with a dentine cleanser composed of either 0.5 mol l−1 EDTA neutralized to pH 7.4 by sodium hydroxide or 10% citric acid containing 3% ferric chloride (10-3 solution), and a commercial dentine bonding agent containing phosphate ester, were examined by measuring the wall-to-wall polymerization contraction gap of a commercial light-activated resin composite placed into cylindrical dentine cavities. The adhesive interface between the dentine and the dentine adhesive was observed using a transmission electron microscope (TEM). Results: The formation of a contraction gap was completely prevented by priming with GM, regardless of the dentine cleanser used. However, in groups primed with 2-HEMA, gap formation was observed in three and four specimens out of 10 in the groups that were cleaned with the EDTA and 10-3 solution, respectively. In samples primed with GM, a high-density layer was observed by TEM at the superficial dentine in the hybrid layer, which may have indicated a high monomer content, whereas no density variations were observed in the hybrid layer in samples primed with 2-HEMA.