A comparative study of the bond strengths of amalgam and alloy–glass ionomer cores

The purpose of this study was to compare the bond strengths of dental amalgam cores and dental alloy-glass ionomer cores that were luted to cast gold crowns with glass ionomer cement. Seventy-two human extracted molars were sectioned horizontally and four regular thread mate system pins were inserted into a flat pulpal floor. The teeth were restored with amalgam or alloy-glass ionomer admixture and prepared for crown preparations. Castings were produced with type III gold and cemented to the cores with Fuji type I glass ionomer cement. Thirty-six of the specimens were subjected to thermal fatigue by cycling between 4 and 50 degrees C for periods of 1, 5 and 10 weeks. The remainder of the specimens were retained in deionized water at 37 degrees C. Bond strengths of the cores, in tension, were measured with a universal testing machine. The alloy-glass ionomer cores exhibited higher bond strengths than the amalgam cores for virtually all time periods, particularly the thermocycled samples. The alloy-glass ionomer cores exclusively displayed core fractures and pin/tooth insufficiencies while the amalgam cores failed because of a deterioration of the glass ionomer luting cement.