Bonding Agents

A bonding agent is a dental material that helps adhesion dental fillings to the dentin and enamel. Read on to find out more about dental bonding agents.

What Are Bonding Agents?

A dental filling is a placement or filling of dental composite into the prepared cavity. Composites adhere to the tooth structure through chemical bonding. A bonding agent is splattered between the composite and the tooth surface. The placement of bonding agents leads to a strong link between the filling materials and the tooth.

What Are Bonding Agents Composed Of?

Bonding agents are composed of methacrylates, specific amounts of volatile substances called carriers, and a solvent-based element, such as acetone. In addition to this, a diluent monomer is used. The dentin gets exposed when a tooth is cleaned with a dental bore. Dentin is a fine tubular structure of the tooth. Before placement of the restorative material, the dentinal tubules must be closed. Closing the dentinal tubules is referred to as conditioning, and this is obtained through smearing a layer of polyacrylic acid. Bonding agents create a hybrid smear layer of collagen and adhesive resin, leading to fine-quality dental restoration.

What Are the Common Bonding Agents?

Thanks to the ever-evolving industry of dental sciences and research. As of today, there are several kinds of bonding agents in dentistry. Mentioned below are a few of the commonly used bonding agents.

• Phosphoric acid.
• Citric acid.
• Nitric acid.
• Malin acid.
• EDTA or ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid.

What Is the Mechanism of Action of a Bonding Agent?

The application of a bonding agent is highly crucial. This is because of the specific mechanism of action between the tooth structures and the bonding agent's elements. Mentioned below is the mechanism of action of a bonding agent. 

1. Applying acid to the tooth and seeping it into the dentin will lead to partial or total removal of the smear layer.
2. Demineralization of the dentin occurs.
3. The peritubular, as well as the intertubular dentin, will demineralize.
4. Due to the dentinal tubules being open, the collagen fibers get exposed.
5. There is an increase in the intertubular microporosity.
6. Around 7.5 µmeter of demineralization occurs in the dentin.
7. The demineralization of the dentin depends on several factors, such as the time the bonding agent is applied, the kind of acid used, and the concentration of the bonding agent.
8. There is a drastic increase in the surface tension of the dentin because of the way the primer system has been developed.
9. The surface tension gets reduced once acid etching is done.
10. A hybrid layer is formed due to the penetration of the bonding agent and the primer, penetrating deep into the intertubular dentin.
11. In addition, resin tags are formed, which polymerize and penetrate the dentinal tubules that have been open due to the acid etch.

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