Bonding Aluminum to Enamel with Ultrasonic Energy

¹ Stomatology and Biophysics Departments, Waldemar Medical Research Foundation, Inc., Woodbury, New York

It has been demonstrated that aluminum can be bonded directly to dental enamel utilizing ultrasonic vibratory energy. Three zones were found in some bonds, and these zones are believed to be related to the impedance match or coupling of ultrasonic energy at the bonding interface. A film has been observed on dental enamel surfaces which appears to be dispersed during bonding. A poor bond may have the transferred metal floating on this film. The nature of this surface property of dental enamel is not understood and is under investigation. Successful bonds were formed between aluminum wire and dental enamel for which no adhesives or mechanical retaining devices were required. These findings raise the possibility that a whole spectrum of materials may be bonded directly to hard biologic structures, i.e., enamel, dentin, cementum, or bone.