Influence of storage conditions and effect of metal priming agents on bond strength of resin-modified glass ionomers to gold alloy.

This study evaluated the influence of water storage conditions and the effect of metal priming agents on bond strength and durability of four luting agents joined to gold alloy. Disk specimens were cast from a gold alloy (Degudent U), and the surfaces were ground flat with abrasive paper. Three surface conditions employed were: unprimed, primed with Alloy Primer, and primed with Metaltite. Three resin-modified glass ionomers (RMGIs; Vitremer Luting Cement, Fuji Lute, and Xeno Cem Plus) and a resin adhesive (Super-Bond C&B) were used for bonding the gold alloy. Unprimed specimens bonded either with Fuji Lute or with Super-Bond C&B were immersed in water at 5, 37, and 55 degrees C for 7 days, or subjected to thermocycling (5,000 cycles; 5 degrees C, 1 min and 55 degrees C, 1 min). In addition, specimens were bonded with 12 combinations comprising three surface conditions and four luting agents, and thermocycled for 20,000 cycles. Shear bond strengths were then determined and analyzed statistically. Thermocycling was useful for evaluation of the bonding durability of RMGIs. Application of two metal priming agents combined with RMGIs considerably enhanced the bond strength to the gold alloy.