An ex vivo assessment of a resin-modified glass ionomer cement in relation to bonding technique.

Objective: This study assessed a resin modified glass ionomer bonding system, Fuji ortho L.C. using different bonding techniques and compared it with a composite control (Transbond).

Design: Ex vivo study. Twenty extracted premolar teeth in each group were bonded as follows: (i) Group 1 Control (Transbond); (ii) Group 2 Fuji ortho L.C. without an etch procedure/wet enamel surface; (iii) Group 3 Fuji ortho L.C. without an etch procedure/dry enamel surface; (iv) Group 4 Fuji ortho L.C. using a conventional acid etch technique.

Outcome: Shear bond strength, site of bond failure and adhesive remnant index.

Results: Brackets bonded as recommended by the manufacturer (Group 2) have significantly (p < 0.001) lower bond strengths compared with the control (Group 1). Bonding with an etch technique (Group 4) will significantly (p < 0.001) increase the bond strength compared with the other Fuji groups. All the Fuji groups tended to fail at the enamel/resin interface with lower ARI scores compared with the control.

Conclusion: The lower bond strength of Fuji ortho L.C. would limit its use as a routine bonding agent. When bonded with an acid etch technique, the bond strength may be sufficient for low loading situations such as the upper anterior teeth.