Light-curable dentin and enamel adhesive

Claim 1

A visible light cure dentin and enamel primer composition, comprising: (a) as a first component, phosphorous-containing free-radically polymerizable monomer suitable for use in the oral environment; (b) as a second component, sulfur compound having sulfur in the +2 or +4 oxidation state, said second component acting as a polymerization activator for said first component and enhancing adhesion of said composition to dentin; and (c) as a third component, photoinitiator selected from substituted and unsubstituted alkylphenones, substituted and unsubstituted benzilidene acetophenones, and compounds of the formula: ##STR2## wherein: X is nothing, a carbon-carbon bond, CR 2 , C═ 1 , C═O, S, SO, SO 2 , O, or NR where each R is independently H or a lower alkyl or substituted alkyl group and R 1 is a tetravalent unsaturated aliphatic radical doubly bonded to said C of C═R 1 and bonded to the 4 or 5 position of said Formula I to form a fused ring structure; Y and Z are independently lower alkyl, substituted alkyl, a divalent unsaturated radical bonded to adjacent positions of said Formula I to form a fused ring structure, alkoxy, halogen, or nitro; and m and n are independently zero to 4.