Abstract
A primer containing cupric [Cu (II)] ions that promoted the interfacial initiation of polymerization from dentin surfaces was studied. Bovine dentin surfaces were treated with 10% phosphoric acid, then with a Cu primer consisting of aqueous 35% 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) containing 0.03% cupric salt, and finally bonded with 4-META/MMA-PMMA resin initiated with oxidized tributylborane (TBBO). The use of the Cu primer resulted in a mean bond strength of 12.5MPa compared with 3.8MPa without the primer and 6.3MPa using a 35% HEMA primer without Cu. The Cu primer produced a bond strength of 13.5MPa even without 4-META in the resin system. Use of the Cu primer should simplify the bonding procedure since enamel and dentin can be etched simultaneously with 10% phosphoric acid.
