[Bonding of MMA-TBB resin to bovine tooth coated by poly (methyl methacrylate-co-p-styrene sulfonic acid)].

The objective of this study was to prepare a new type water soluble bonding agent, methyl methacrylate (MMA)-p-styrene sulfonic acid copolymer (MS), and to investigate the effect of MS on bonding between resins and tooth substrates. MS is cross-linked with Ca2+ supplied by hydroxyapatite in a smeared layer on ground enamel and dentin and sticks to their surface. Samples were prepared by bonding an acrylic rod with MMA-TBB resin to ground enamel and dentin coated with an aqueous mixture of FeCl3 and 10 wt% MS. After immersed in water for 24 hrs, the tensile bond strength was measured. The bond strengths to both enamel and dentin were higher than 11 MPa and cohesive failure of cured MMA-TBB resin was observed in every case. This suggested that MS could adhere to tooth substrates with a new bonding mechanism different from the previously reported mechanism of the monomer interpenetration and polymerization.