Influence of application method on surface free-energy and bond strength of universal adhesive systems to enamel.

The aim of the present study was to determine the influence of different adhesive application methods and etching modes on enamel bond effectiveness of universal adhesives using shear bond strength (SBS) testing and surface free-energy (SFE) measurements. The adhesives Scotchbond Universal, All-Bond Universal, Adhese Universal, and G-Premio Bond were used. Prepared bovine enamel specimens were divided into four groups, based on type of adhesive, and subjected to the following surface treatments: (i) total-etch mode with active application; (ii) total-etch mode with inactive application; (iii) self-etch mode with active application; and (iv) self-etch mode with inactive application. Bonded specimens were subjected to SBS testing. The SFE of the enamel surfaces with adhesive was measured after rinsing with acetone and water. The SBS values in total-etch mode were significantly higher than those in self-etch mode. In total-etch mode, significantly lower SBS values were observed with active application compared with inactive application; in contrast, in self-etch mode there were no significant differences in SBS between active and inactive applications. A reduction in total SFE was observed for active application compared with inactive application. The interaction between etching mode and application method was statistically significant, and the application method significantly affected enamel bond strength in total-etch mode.

Influence of Pre-etching Times on Fatigue Strength of Self-etch Adhesives to Enamel.

PURPOSE: To use shear bond strength (SBS) and shear fatigue strength (SFS) testing to determine the influence of phosphoric acid pre-etching times prior to application of self-etch adhesives on enamel bonding. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two single-step self-etch universal adhesives (Prime&Bond Elect and Scotchbond Universal), a conventional single-step self-etch adhesive (G-ӕnial Bond), and a conventional two-step self-etch adhesive (OptiBond XTR) were used. The SBS and SFS were obtained with phosphoric acid pre-etching for 3, 10, or 15 s prior to application of the adhesives, and without pre-etching (0 s) as a control. A staircase method was used to determine the SFS with 10 Hz frequency for 50,000 cycles or until failure occurred. The mean demineralization depth for each treated enamel surface was also measured using a profilometer. RESULTS: For all the adhesives, the groups with pre-etching showed significantly higher SBS and SFS than groups without pre-etching. However, there was no significant difference in SBS and SFS among groups with > 3 s of preetching. In addition, although the groups with pre-etching showed significantly deeper demineralization depths than groups without pre-etching, there was no significant difference in depth among groups with > 3 s of pre-etching. CONCLUSION: Three seconds of phosphoric acid pre-etching prior to application of self-etch adhesive can enhance enamel bonding effectiveness.

Influence of degradation conditions on dentin bonding durability of three universal adhesives.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to determine dentin bonding durability of universal adhesives using shear bond strength (SBS) tests under various degradation conditions. METHODS: G-Premio Bond (GP, GC), Scotchbond Universal (SU, 3M ESPE) and All Bond Universal (AB, Bisco) were compared with conventional two-step self-etch adhesive Clearfil SE Bond (SE, Kuraray Noritake Dental). Bonded specimens were divided into three groups of ten, and SBSs with bovine dentin were determined after the following treatments: 1) Storage in distilled water at 37°C for 24h followed by 3000, 10,000, 20,000 or 30,000 thermal cycles (TC group), 2) Storage in distilled water at 37°C for 3 months, 6 months or 1year (water storage, WS group) and 3) Storage in distilled water at 37°C for 24h (control). RESULTS: SE bonded specimens showed significantly higher SBSs than universal adhesives, regardless of TC or storage periods, although AB specimens showed significantly increased SBSs after 30,000 thermal cycles. In comparisons of universal adhesives under control and degradation conditions, SBS was only reduced in SU after 1year of WS. CONCLUSION: Following exposure of various adhesive systems to degradation conditions of thermal cycling and long term storage, SBS values of adhesive systems varied primarily with degradation period. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Although universal adhesives have lower SBSs than the two-step self-etch adhesive SE, the present data indicate that the dentin bonding durability of universal adhesives in self-etch mode is sufficient for clinical use.

Evaluation of a calcium phosphate desensitizer using an ultrasonic device.

This study evaluated the effect of a calcium phosphate desensitizer on the demineralization of bovine dentin by measuring changes in transmitted ultrasonic velocity. Bovine dentin specimens with and without application of desensitizer were immersed in 0.1 M lactic-acid buffer solution (pH 4.75) 10 min twice daily throughout the test period, and stored in artificial saliva solution (pH 7.0) between treatments. The propagation time of longitudinal ultrasonic waves was measured by a pulser-receiver. Data were evaluated using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey HSD test (α=0.05). The ultrasonic velocity decreased over time in specimens stored in demineralizing solution (3,785-3,462 m/s); however, desensitizer-applied specimens had a significantly higher sonic velocity (3,945-3,990 m/s) than those without application. The calcium phosphate desensitizer appeared to reduce the demineralization of dentin and occluded dentinal tubules.

Influence of refractive index on optical parameters of experimental resin composites.

OBJECTIVE: Color characteristics of the experimental resin composites were determined to know the influence of different refractive index (RI) on optical parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four experimental light-cured resin composites of the same shade but with different RI were used. The colorimetric values of the specimens were measured against black and white backgrounds using spectrophotometry. The results were converted to CIE L*a*b* color-space values. The chroma (C*ab), color difference (ΔE), translucency parameter (TP) and opacity (OP, opposite property of TP) values were calculated. Surface gloss (GS) of the specimen was also measured. RESULTS: The L* coordinate, a* coordinate and ΔE*ab values increased as the difference in RI increased. The OP and GS values increased and the TP values decreased as the refractive-index difference increased. The L* and C*ab values increased as the value of the RI increased. The TP, OP and GS values were highly correlated with the RI value. The TP value decreased and the OP and GS values increased, as the RI value increased. CONCLUSIONS: Refractive index of resin composites is important when thinking about improving the color appearance of esthetic restorations.

Dentin bonding: influence of bonded surface area and crosshead speed on bond strength.

This study investigated the influence of the bonded surface area and the crosshead speed on the dentin bond strengths of self-etch adhesives. Bovine mandibular incisors were mounted in self-curing resin and the facial surfaces were wet ground with #600 silicon carbide (SiC) paper. The dentin surfaces were treated according to the manufacturer's instructions. Adhesives were applied, and the resin composites were condensed into molds (2.4 or 4.0 mm in internal diameter), placed on to the dentin, and then light activated. Ten samples per test group were shear tested at crosshead speeds of 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 5.0, and 10.0 mm/min. The results showed that higher crosshead speeds were associated with higher dentin bond strengths. This relationship was more significant for specimens with a smaller dentin bonding surface area.

Surface free-energy measurements as indicators of the bonding characteristics of single-step self-etching adhesives.

This study examined the surface free-energy of dentin treated with the single-step self-etching adhesives Bond Force, Clearfil tri-S Bond, and G-Bond Plus. The labial dentin surfaces of bovine mandibular incisors were wet ground with #180-, #600-, and #2,000-grit silicon carbide paper. The adhesives were applied to the ground dentin, and then rinsed with acetone and distilled water. The surface free-energies were determined by measuring the contact angles of three test liquids placed on the adhesive-treated dentin. The surface free-energies of the samples treated with the G-Bond Plus and Clearfil tri-S Bond adhesives increased as the surface roughness decreased. No significant differences in the surface free-energy were found for the samples treated with the Bond Force adhesive, regardless of the surface roughness. These results indicated that dentin surfaces treated with adhesives did not promote a higher surface-energy state, and that differences in the components of surface energy were apparent for the adhesives tested.