Efficacy of using self-etching primer with a 4-META/MMA-TBB resin cement in bonding orthodontic brackets to human enamel and effect of saliva contamination on shear bond strength

The objective of this study was (1) to evaluate the effectiveness of Megabond when used with Superbond C&B, a 4-methacryloloxyethyl trimellitate anhydride (4-META)/methyl methacrylate (MMA)-tri-n-butyl borane (TBB) resin, to bond orthodontic metal brackets to human enamel and (2) to examine the influence of saliva contamination on shear bond strength. Metal brackets were bonded to phosphoric acid-etched or Megabond-treated human premolars using Superbond C&B resin cement. The effects of saliva contamination after acid etching or self-etch priming, and the effect of re-etching or self-etch priming after saliva contamination on shear bond strength were also assessed. The shear bond strengths were measured after immersion in water at 37degreesC for 24 hours. Data were analyzed using two-way analysis of variance and Fisher's protected least significant difference test for multiple comparisons. There were no significant differences in shear bond strength between phosphoric acid etching and self-etch priming for no contamination, saliva contamination, and repeat treatment (etching or priming) after saliva contamination. With phosphoric acid etching, saliva contamination significantly decreased the shear bond strength. Repeat phosphoric acid etching after saliva contamination did not significantly improve the bond strengths. With self-etching primer treatment, however, saliva contamination did not cause any decrease of bond strength. Phosphoric acid etching produced more enamel fracture than self-etching primer treatment. Field-emission scanning microscopy revealed less dissolution of enamel surface resulted from self-etching primer compared with phosphoric acid. These results suggest that Megabond when used with Superbond C&B resin cement may be a good candidate for bonding orthodontic brackets to human enamel.