Acid-base properties of adhesive dental polymers.

The surface energetics of three resins (polymethylmethacrylate, polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate, and Bis-GMA/triethyleneglycoldimethacrylate) commonly used in adhesive interactions with tooth hard tissues were evaluated according to the Fowkes acid-base theory of interfacial interactions. From the measurement of the contact angle of test acidic and basic liquids on the sample surfaces, the acid-base contribution to the work of adhesion was evaluated. Results show that polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate is a comparatively strong Lewis base, a finding that can explain the important role played by this material in the formulation of dentin adhesive.