Effects of a combined application of potassium oxalate gel/adhesive agent on dentin permeability in vitro.

Abstract

To test the effects of sequential application of potassium oxalate gel/adhesive agent on in vitro dentin permeability. Full crown preparations were made in extracted human molars to expose deep coronal dentin. The roots and pulp were removed and the resulting crown segments were connected to a special device (Flodec) to permit the measurement of the permeability of the specimens before and after treatments. Minimum and maximum permeability were recorded after smear layer and phosphoric acid treatment. A new smear layer was created and the permeability measured after the crowns were bonded with Single Bond (3M ESPE), One-Up Bond F (Tokuyama), and AdheSE (Ivoclar Vivadent), either according to manufacturer's instructions or after treating the acid-etched dentin with a 3 wt% potassium oxalate gel. The results were expressed as a percentage of maximum permeability values. Impressions and epoxy resin replicas from the crown segments were produced for SEM examination. None of the adhesives were able to eliminate the fluid flow through dentin. Two-way ANOVA revealed that the application of potassium oxalate prior to the bonding procedures was the most effective technique in reducingthe dentin permeability (p < 0.05), regardless of the adhesive used. SEM micrographs showed that transudation of dentinal fluid could be identified on the surfaces of all replicas. The use of potassium oxalate gel was effective in reducing the permeability of bonded dentin.