Laboratory evaluation of a metal-priming agent for adhesive bonding

Objective: The purpose of this laboratory study was to determine the bond strength of a base metal alloy to a high-noble alloy and amalgam when a new chemical adhesion promoter was used in conjunction with a resin cement. Method and materials: Specimens of high-noble alloy and amalgam were prepared in epoxy-filled rings. Base metal cylinders were cast. The ends of the cylinders and the metal bonding substrates were wet ground and air abraded with aluminum oxide. The base metal cylinders were cemented with Panavia 21 resin cement after application of 1 of the following to the high-noble and amalgam metal surfaces: (1) Alloy Primer, (2) ED Primer, (3) Alloy Primer and ED Primer, or (4) tin plating. Bond values were determined after 24 hours' storage and after 3 months' storage and thermocycling. Results: At both 24 hours and 3 months, tin plating yielded the highest bond strengths to a high-noble alloy, but the value for the Alloy Primer groups was not significantly lower. There was no statistically significant difference between the 24-hour and 3-month values within the 4 treatment regimens. Conclusion: Treatment of amalgam or high-noble alloy with either tin plating or Alloy Primer before bonding with Panavia 21 resin cement yielded equivalent bond strengths to a base metal alloy. ED Primer was not an effective metal primer. There was no advantage to combining Alloy Primer and ED Primer.