Immediate adhesive properties to dentin and enamel of a universal adhesive associated with a hydrophobic resin coat.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of acid etching and application of a hydrophobic resin coat on the enamel/dentin bond strengths and degree of conversion (DC) within the hybrid layer of a universal adhesive system (G-Bond Plus [GB]). METHODS: A total of 60 extracted third molars were divided into four groups for bond-strength testing, according to the adhesive strategy: GB applied as a one-step self-etch adhesive (1-stepSE); GB applied as in 1-stepSE followed by one coat of the hydrophobic resin Heliobond (2-stepSE); GB applied as a two-step etch-and-rinse adhesive (2-stepER); GB applied as in 2-stepER followed by one coat of the hydrophobic resin Heliobond (3-stepER). There were 40 teeth used for enamel microshear bond strength (µSBS) and DC; and 20 teeth used for dentin microtensile bond strength (µTBS) and DC. After restorations were constructed, specimens were stored in water (37°C/24 h) and then tested at 0.5 mm/min (µTBS) or 1.0 mm/min (µSBS). Enamel-resin and dentin-resin interfaces from each group were evaluated for DC using micro-Raman spectroscopy. Data were analyzed with two-way analysis of variance for each substrate and the Tukey test (α=0.05). RESULTS: For enamel, the use of a hydrophobic resin coat resulted in statistically significant higher mean enamel µSBS only for the ER strategy (3-stepER vs 2-stepER, p<0.0002). DC was significantly improved for the SE strategy (p<0.00002). For dentin, the use of a hydrophobic resin coat resulted in significantly higher dentin mean µTBS only for the SE strategy (2-stepSE vs 1-stepSE, p<0.0007). DC was significantly improved in groups 2-stepSE and 3-stepER when compared with 1-stepSE and 2-stepER, respectively (p<0.0009). CONCLUSIONS: The use of a hydrophobic resin coat may be beneficial for the selective enamel etching technique, because it improves bond strengths to enamel when applied with the ER strategy and to dentin when used with the SE adhesion strategy. The application of a hydrophobic resin coat may improve DC in resin-dentin interfaces formed with either the SE or the ER strategy. On enamel, DC may benefit from the application of a hydrophobic resin coat over 1-stepSE adhesives.

Effect of bur roughness on bond to sclerotic dentin with self-etch adhesive systems.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of bur roughness on bond strength values and conditioner pattern of two-step self-etch adhesives applied on sclerotic dentin. METHODS: The roots of 48 bovine incisors were removed and the crowns were divided into four groups: the control group (CO) teeth were left untreated or the teeth were slightly roughened with coarse-, medium-, or fine-grit diamond burs. Next, the teeth were subdivided and Clearfil SE Bond (CSE) and Adper SE Bond (ASE) were applied according to the manufacturers' instructions. Composite resin (Opallis) buildups were incrementally constructed on the bonded surfaces. After storage for 24 hours in distilled water at 37°C, the teeth were sectioned into sticks (area of 0.8 mm(2)). The sticks were stressed until failure by tensile forces (0.5 mm/min). Additionally, eight bovine teeth were treated as previously described, and after adhesive application, the surface was rinsed off and examined by scanning electron microscopy to measure the relative number of open tubules (OT). Data (MPa) were analyzed by two-way analysis of variance and Tukey test (p=0.05). RESULTS: CO showed the highest bond strength values (p<0.05). As regards OT, the lowest mean was observed for CO (p<0.05) and the highest was found after application of CSE or ASE (p<0.05).