ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the bond strength of total-etch or self-etch dentin bonding agents after using two different dentin desensitizers on exposed dentin and investigate the bond interface by scanning electron microscope (SEM).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty intact and non-carious human third molars were used. The occlusal enamel was removed with the use of a slow-speed saw under water cooling. These teeth were divided into three groups using a table of random numbers with 10 teeth each. These three groups were treated with water (Group C), UltraEZ (Group U) and MI Paste (Group M) respectively. Then 10 teeth from each group were divided into A subgroup (n = 5) bonded with Single Bond 2 adhesive system and B subgroup (n = 5) bonded with Xeno III adhesive system according to manufacturers' instructions. A block of composite resin was build up to 4-5 mm. All the teeth were sectioned occluso-gingivally to obtain bar-shaped specimens with bonded surface area about 0.9 mm x 0.9 mm. The tension of the sample was tested by a microtensile tester at 1 mm/min. The mean values of bond strength were compared using one-way ANOVA. Three samples were chosen randomly from each of six groups for SEM investigation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were no significant differences between Group U and Group C both in A and B subgroups. While there were significant differences between Group M and Group C in two bonding-agent subgroups. For SEM, the hybrid layer was thin and dense in six groups. Both total-etch and self-etch bonding systems could get fair resin tag infiltration in Group C and Group U. In Group M, the resin tags were relatively shorter and fewer than the anterior mentioned two groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>UltraEZ had no effect on bond strength of both kinds of dentin bonding agents, while MI paste could diminish bond strength.</p>