title: Phosphoric acid and various transition metal salt solutions as a combined etchant and activator prior to the use of an anaerobic adhesive.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of this experiment were to determine whether various transition metal salts in 37% o-phosphoric acid could both activate and etch an enamel surface prior to the use of an anaerobic adhesive.
  
  
  METHODS
  Stainless steel attachments were bonded to human enamel using an anaerobic adhesive. In each case, the enamel was etched and activated using a solution of 37% o-phosphoric acid containing various transition metal sulfates and chlorides. After bench curing, the specimens were shear bond tested to failure and the load at debond recorded in each case.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results were analyzed using mean force to debond (N) and 95% confidence intervals. Kaplan-Meier survival probabilities and log-rank tests were also performed.Conclusions. Under the conditions of this experiment, the sulfate and chloride of copper in acid were the most effective etching/activating solutions. There was no significant difference in the mean force to debond between the copper (II) sulfate and copper (II) chloride. The chloride in acid was, however, the only one of the two to produce a conventional etch pattern on the surface of the enamel.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is possible to render the enamel surface both retentive and active towards anaerobic adhesives, such that relatively unreactive substrates can be bonded to enamel using such adhesives.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Royal United Hospital, Combe Park, BA1 4DP, Bath, UK. tony.ireland@ruh-bah.swest.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Ireland
authors.forename: Martin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ireland
authors.forename: Martyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sherriff
mesh_terms: D000134:Acid Etching, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D017438:Bisphenol A-Glycidyl Methacrylate; D002712:Chlorides / Q000737:chemistry; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000737:chemistry; D010756:Phosphoric Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D019279:Resin Cements; D033081:Shear Strength; D013431:Sulfates / Q000737:chemistry; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D002712:Chlorides; D019216:Metals, Heavy; C400047:Perma Metal; D010756:Phosphoric Acids; D019279:Resin Cements; D013431:Sulfates; D017438:Bisphenol A-Glycidyl Methacrylate; C030242:phosphoric acid