Development of adhesive pit and fissure sealants using a MMA resin initiated by a tri-n-butyl borane derivative.

A new adhesive fissure sealant, which consists of a solution of 3% 2-hydroxy-3-beta-naphthoxypropyl methacrylate in methyl methacrylate (MMA), poly-MMA powder and an oxidized tri-n-butyl borane, a polymerization initiator, was developed. Tensile bond strength between an acid-etched bovine enamel and a poly-MMA bar joined by this sealant was 60 kg/cm2, and the value did not decrease much after 30 days immersion in water at 37 degrees C. Penetration of fuchsin into the sealant-enamel interface during a percolation test was not observed. SEM observation showed no voids between the enamel and the cured sealant.