Bonding ability of 4-META self-etching primer used with 4-META/MMA-TBB resin to enamel and dentine: Primary vs permanent teeth

Abstract Objectives The present study compared the efficacies of the self-etching Teeth Primer (TP: 4-META), and the etchants Red Activator (RA; 65% phosphoric acid) and Green Activator (GA; 10% citric acid with 3% ferric chloride), for bonding to enamel and dentine of human primary and permanent teeth, when used with 4-META/MMA-TBB resin (Bondfill SB). Methods Forty-eight non-carious primary canines and third molars were used. Eight groups were prepared: Group 1 (primary enamel with RA), Group 2 (permanent enamel with RA), Group 3 (primary enamel with TP), Group 4 (permanent enamel with TP), Group 5 (primary dentine with GA), Group 6 (permanent dentine with GA), Group 7 (primary dentine with TP) and Group 8 (permanent dentine with TP). Micro-tensile bond strengths (MTBS) were measured and analyzed statistically using ANOVAs and Tukey HSD tests at α  = 0.05. Efficacy of etching/priming and the morphology of bonded interfaces were observed with SEM. Results Etching/priming efficacy of TP on enamel was low. The MTBS of Group 2 was significantly higher than the other groups (Groups 1, 3 and 4). For dentine, significant differences in MTBS were observed, in the order of Groups 6 > 8 > 7 = 5 ( p p  > 0.05). Conclusion TP primer/Bondfill SB may be used as an alternative to other adhesive/resin composite systems for bonding to enamel and dentine of primary teeth.