Adhesion of polycarboxylate-based dental cements to enamel: an in vivo study.

The bond strength of two polycarboxylate and two glass ionomer cements to enamel in vivo has been measured by a tensile test method. The four cements were used to cement small stainless steel cylinders onto the facial surfaces of 11 and 21. The cylinders were removed by a tensile force applied by a handpiece containing a semi-conductor sensory unit. The results showed that all cements gave two sets of bond strength values, either a good bond corresponding to a cohesive failure, or a weak bond corresponding to an adhesive failure. The mean bond strength values were lower than those recorded in vitro, and differences among the cements were limited.