ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of blood contamination before or after surface treatment on adhesion of 4-META/MMA-TBB resin. After bovine root dentin surfaces were contaminated with blood before or after dentin surface treatment with 10-3 solution, the contaminated surface was rinsed with water, air-dried, or re-treated with 10-3 solution. Dye leakage and microtensile bond strength (MTBS) of 4-META/MMA-TBB resin to dentin were measured after storage in water for 24 h. When blood contamination occurred before surface treatment, there was no significant difference in the leakage value and MTBS as compared with that of the uncontaminated group. When blood contamination occurred after surface treatment, the leakage value increased and MTBS significantly decreased (p<0.05) even if the blood was washed away. However, when the surface was re-treated with 10-3 solution after rinsing with water, the leakage value and MTBS were restored to those of the uncontaminated group.