Bonding of an ion-releasing restorative material to caries-affected dentin disinfected with photodynamic therapy, Er,Cr:YSGG laser, and chemical disinfectants.

Abstract

The study aimed to evaluate the microtensile bond strength (μTBS) of giomer, an ion-releasing restorative material, to caries-affected dentin (CAD) when different cavity disinfectant protocols were applied before the restoration. Thirty extracted non-carious human third molars were embedded in acrylic resin. The occlusal portions of the samples were excised using an IsoMet saw. After creating artificial caries, samples were divided into six groups (n = 12): sound dentin with no disinfection (Group SD), CAD with no disinfection (Group CAD), CAD disinfected with 2% chlorhexidine gluconate (Group CHX), CAD disinfected with 6% NaOCl (Group NaOCl), CAD disinfected with photodynamic therapy with methylene blue photosensitizer (Group PDT), and CAD disinfected with Er,Cr:YSGG (Group ECYL). Following disinfection protocols, the universal adhesive was applied, and all samples were restored using giomer. Subsequently, μTBS analyses were performed, and data were analyzed statistically. The highest μTBS values were obtained from the SD and CAD groups, which exhibited no statistical differences (p > 0.05). The PDT and ECYL groups had higher μTBS values compared with the CHX and NaOCl groups (p < 0.05), and all disinfection protocols decreased the bond strength to CAD (p < 0.05). The microtensile bond strength of disinfected CAD was greater with Er,Cr:YSGG laser and photodynamic therapy treatment than with chemical disinfectants. Giomer may enhance the bond strength to CAD, which has a weaker bonding potential than sound dentin due to structural differences. However, disinfection protocols adversely affect adhesion between the restorative material and CAD.