VIBRATIONAL ANALYSIS BY RAMAN-SPECTROSCOPY OF THE INTERFACE BETWEEN DENTAL ADHESIVE RESIN AND DENTIN

The Raman microprobe technique was applied for analysis of the molecular components at the adhesive interface between 4-META/MMA-TBB resin and dentin. The Raman spectra showed that the 4-META molecules in monomer solution were mostly hydrolyzed into 4-MET molecules, which were then co-polymerized with MMA molecules to form resin and resin-reinforced dentin layers. On the basis of line analysis by the Raman microprobe, resin molecules were estimated to penetrate 6-mu-m into the dentin from the interface. Raman intensity studies indicated that the concentration of 4-MET molecular units in the resin-reinforced dentin was more than four times the concentration in the original monomer solution. This demonstrated the excellent infiltration ability of 4-MET monomer into dentin substrate in situ.