Long-term microtensile bond strength of self-etch adhesives and influence of 7-s phosphoric acid etching on adhesion of a 3-step etch-and-rinse adhesive to the dentine of primary teeth.

Abstract

The immediate microtensile bond strength (µTBS) of self-etch (SE) adhesives to primary dentine is promising, but evidence about the durability is scarce. To assess the long-term µTBS of SE adhesives to primary dentine and to examine the effect of 7-s etching on µTBS of a 3-step etch-and-rinse (ER) adhesive. The enamel of 115 caries-free human primary teeth was ground flat, and bonding was performed according to group assignment: G-aenial™ Bond/GC [GB], Clearfil™ SE Bond/Kuraray [CS], OptiBond™ XTR/Kerr [OX], Scotchbond™ Universal/3M™ [SU], Prime&Bond® NT™/Dentsply [PB], and OptiBond™ FL/Kerr [OF]. After storage (24h, 6 mos., 12 mos.), 1,762 beams were cut for µTBS testing. Fracture analysis was performed using light/fluorescence microscopy. Resin-dentine interfaces were exemplarily analyzed using SEM. After 24h, OX and SU showed significantly higher estimated mean µTBS than GB, which exhibited the lowest µTBS at all stages (p<.05). μTBS within each adhesive group showed slight variations over time (p>.05). OF_SE produced acceptable µTBS. Etching increased the mean immediate µTBS for OF (p>.05) and the percentage of cohesive fractures. SE adhesives achieved durable μTBS to primary dentine. 7-s etching may improve the immediate µTBS of a 3-step ER adhesive.