| abstract |
A single package adhesive for tooth bonding applications which comprises a bulk-water-free solvent-based homogeneous liquid containing: 1) An ethylenically unsaturated monomer that possesses a hygroscopic functional group that (a) is capable of chemically reacting with and through the ethylenic bond of the ethylenically unsaturated-functional monomer of 2) below, and (b) provides the capacity for chemical bonding to the surface to which the adhesive is applied. 2) A mixture of soft, medium and hard crosslinkers (cross linking agents) that are polyfunctional molecules where the functionality is complementary to the ethylenic unsaturation of the ethylenically-unsaturated-functional monomer of 1) above; 3) A measurable amount of a water/fluid leachable fluoride capable of being leached from the liquid in a metered amount, obtained from a fluoride source, such as a particulate siliceous fluoride containing filler suspended in the liquid, in which the fluoride therein is water leachable; and 4) a photoinitiator system, i.e., comprises a free radical photoinitiator that induces addition polymerization of an ethylenically unsaturated compound. A method is described for using the adhesive in tooth bonding applications. |