A dentist chooses a conventional glass ionomer cement to restore root-surface lesions in a patient with xerostomia. Its chemical adhesion to tooth structure is primarily due to which mechanism?

  • Correct answer

    Ionic bonding of polyacid carboxyl groups to calcium in hydroxyapatite

  • Micromechanical interlocking of resin tags in etched enamel

  • Covalent bonding to exposed collagen fibrils

  • Formation of a hybrid layer after phosphoric acid etching

This question is one of 15 in AFK practice: Biomedical sciences. Test yourself on all of them.

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Explanations

  • Carboxylate groups of the polyalkenoic acid chelate calcium in enamel and dentin, giving true chemical adhesion along with fluoride release. Resin tags and hybrid layers describe resin-based adhesive systems, not conventional glass ionomer.

    Source: Sakaguchi and Powers, Craig's Restorative Dental Materials — oneguy

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