SHEAR BOND STRENGTHS OF RESIN-MODIFIED GLASS-IONOMER RESTORATIVE MATERIALS

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the shear bond strength of r esin-modified glass-ionomer restorative materials to dentin. The mater ials tested were Fuji II LC, Geristore, Photac-Fil, VariGlass VLC, and Vitremer. Ketac-Fil, a conventional glass ionomer, was used as the co ntrol. The occlusal surfaces of 60 extracted molars were ground flat i n dentin using 600-grit silicon carbide abrasive paper. Dentin surface s were treated according to manufacturers' instructions, and restorati ve materials were applied using gelatin capsule matrices. Shear bond s trengths were determined after the specimens were thermocycled 500 tim es. Mean bond strengths of the resin-modified glass ionomers ranged fr om 1.4 MPa (Photac-Fil) to 12.3 MPa (Fuji II LC). Except for Photac-Fi l,all values were significantly higher than the control. Pairwise comp arisons between the means for Fuji II LC and Vitremer, Vitremer and Ge ristore, and Geristore and VariGlass were not significantly different.