Adhesion of composite resin to etched glass ionomer cement

A laboratory study was undertaken to determine the tensile bond strengths of three glass ionomer cements to dentine and the tensile bond strengths of composite to the three glass ionomers after etching. The tensile bond strength to untreated dentine was in the range of 4.47–5.52 MPa, being approximately twice that of a glass ionomer restorative material. After etching the glass ionomer, the bond strength to composite resin ranged from 1.83 MPa to 6.17 MPa, depending on the ionomer and on the time after mixing at which it was etched. In the majority of clinical situations, retention of a composite restoration via etched glass ionomer cement would probably need to be supplemented by additional mechanical retention.