ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of salivary contamination of etched enamel on shear bond strength of a bracket adhered to etched enamel. Eighty extracted human permanent premolars were used in this study. These samples were divided into two groups. Buccal surface of samples were etched in vitro with 38% phosphoric acid for 15 seconds and 60 seconds. Each group was divided into four subgroups. Etched enamel surfaces were contaminated with saliva for 0, 1, 20, 60 seconds, washed and dried. Test surfaces were examined using scanning electron microscope(SEM). The shear bond strength of each sample was determined with a universal testing instrument(lnstron Co. Model 4201). Results were as follows; 1. Salivary contamination for 1, 20, 60 seconds did not affect shear bond strength when compared with the uncontaminated enamel group. 2. There was no significant difference(P>.05) in shear bond strength between 15 sec. and 60 sec. etching in uncontaminated enamel groups. 3. When samples were examined using SEM, organic materials coated enamel surface masked the etched pattern partially.