ABSTRACT
To investigate the interaction between dentin and self-etching systems with different pH characteristics. Midcoronal occlusal dentin of 12 extracted human molars was exposed and the specimens were randolmly divided into four groups according to the adhesive system used: Scotchbond Multipurpose Plus (SB) - control; Optibond Solo Plus Self-Etch (OP) - pH 1.5; Adper Prompt L Pop (PR) - pH 1.0; Clearfil SE Bond (CL) - pH 2.0. The specimens were examinated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to compare the typical structures of resin-dentin interaction using a metrical scale draw on the images. The adhesive systems applied produced statistical different hybrid layer thickness (p = 0.049), and the mean values (µm) were: SB = 6.13, OP = 1.6, PR = 2.04 and CL = 0.82. The resin tags formation and hybrid layer extension relationship were: SB = 1/9.2 µm, OP = 1/8.2 µm, PR = 1/13.1 µm and CL = 1/7.6 µm. The average thickness of hybrid layer was in the inverse ratio to the pH of the adhesive systems studied. The acidity of self-etching adhesives may be considered one of the many factors responsible for the resin-dentin interactions characteristics observed by SEM