Effect of different air-drying time on the microleakage of single-step self-etch adhesives

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the effect of three different air-drying times on microleakage of three self-etch adhesive systems. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Class I cavities were prepared for 108 extracted sound human premolars. The teeth were divided into three main groups based on three different adhesives Opti Bond All in One (OBAO), Clearfil S3 Bond (CSB), Bond Force (BF). Each main group divided into three subgroups regarding the air-drying time without application of air stream, following the manufacturer's instruction, for 10 sec more than manufacturer's instruction. After completion of restorations, specimens were thermocycled and then connected to a fluid filtration system to evaluate microleakage. The data were statistically analyzed using two-way ANOVA and Tukey-test (alpha = 0.05). RESULTS: The microleakage of all adhesives decreased when the air-drying time increased from 0 sec to manufacturer's instruction (p < 0.001). The microleakage of BF reached its lowest values after increasing the drying time to 10 sec more than the manufacturer's instruction (p < 0.001). Microleakage of OBAO and CSB was significantly lower compared to BF in all three drying time (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Increasing in air-drying time of adhesive layer in one-step self-etch adhesives caused reduction of microleakage, but the amount of this reduction may be dependent on the adhesive components of self-etch adhesives.