PURPOSE: The purpose of this laboratory and finite element analysis study was to investigate the effects on the formation of a hybrid layer of an experimental silane coupling agent containing primer solutions composed of different percentages of hydroxyethyl methacrylate.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 125 sound human premolars were restored in vitro. Simple class I cavities were formed on each tooth, followed by the application of different compositions of experimental silane primers (0%, 5%, 25%, and 50% of hydroxyethyl methacrylate), bonding agents, and dental composite resins. Bond strength tests and scanning electron microscopy analyses were performed. The laboratory experimental results were validated with finite element analysis to determine the pattern of stress distribution. Simulations were conducted by placing the restorative composite resin in a premolar tooth by imitating simple class I cavities. The laboratory and finite element analysis data were significantly different from each other, as determined by 1-way ANOVA. A post hoc analysis was conducted on the bond strength data to further clarify the effects of silane primers.
RESULTS: The strongest bond of hybrid layer (16.96 MPa) was found in the primer with 25% hydroxyethyl methacrylate, suggesting a barely visible hybrid layer barrier. The control specimens without the application of the primer and the primer specimens with no hydroxyethyl methacrylate exhibited the lowest strength values (8.30 MPa and 11.78 MPa) with intermittent and low visibility of the hybrid layer. These results were supported by finite element analysis that suggested an evenly distributed stress on the model with 25% hydroxyethyl methacrylate.
CONCLUSIONS: Different compositions of experimental silane primers affected the formation of the hybrid layer and its resulting bond strength.
METHODS: Different volume percentages of HEMA were tested in four experimental silane-based primer solutions (additions of HEMA: 0, 5.0 vol%, 25.0 vol% and 50.0 vol%). An experimental silane blend (primer) of 1.0 vol% 3-isocyanatopropyltrimethoxysilane (ICMS) + 0.5% bis-1,2-(triethoxysilyl) ethane (BTSE) was prepared and used. The experimental primers together with the control group were applied onto acid-etched premolars for attachment of orthodontic brackets. After artificial aging by thermocycling the shear-bond strength was measured. The fractured surfaces of all specimens were examined under scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to evaluate the failure mode on the enamel surface.
RESULTS: The experimental primers showed the highest shear-bond strength of 21.15 MPa (SD ± 2.70 MPa) and with 25 vol% showed a highly significant increase (P < 0.05) in bond strength. The SEM images showed full penetration of adhesive agents when using silane-based primers. In addition, the SEM images suggested that the predominant failure type was not necessarily the same as for the failure propagation.
CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study suggested that nonacidic silane-based primers with HEMA addition might be an alternative to for use as adhesion promoting primers.