Effect of sodium hypochlorite on dentin bonding with a polyalkenoic acid-containing adhesive system

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) treatment on dentin bonding by means of contact angle (CA), shear bond strength (SBS), and microleakage (ML) measurements. Ultrastructure and nanoleakage (NL) of the interfaces were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). For CA, SBS, and TEM evaluation, human molars were sectioned to expose dentin surfaces and were either acid-etched (35% H3PO4) or further treated with 5% NaOCl for 2 min before the application of Single Bond adhesive. CAs were measured using the Axisymmetric Drop Shape Analysis technique. The Watanabe testing assembly was used for SBS evaluation. ML was assessed by a dye penetration method. NL was examined using a silver-staining technique. The results showed that CA values decreased after acid etching and even more after NaOCl treatment. NaOCl treatment produced lower SBS than acid-etched dentin. Both ML values and NL manifestations were similar for NaOCl-treated and acid-etched dentin. NaOCl did not completely remove the collagen matrix. NL was manifested along the base of hybrid layers and within the polyalkenoic acid copolymer in both groups. Adverse chemical interactions could have occurred between the remnant collagen matrix and/or mineralized dentin after NaOCl treatment. There is no additional advantage in using NaOCl treatment with this adhesive.     

Effects of sodium hypochlorite gel and sodium hypochlorite solution on dentin bond strength

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of 10% NaOCl gel and 10% NaOCl solution on dentin bond strengths of four adhesive systems. One hundred eighty bovine incisors were ground to achieve a flat polished surface, then divided into 12 groups: Gluma One Bond [G1-control; G2-NaOCl solution; G3-NaOCl gel]; Prime & Bond 2.1 [G4-control; G5-NaOCl solution; G6-NaOCl gel]; Single Bond [G7-control; G8-NaOCl solution; G9-NaOCl gel]; Prime & Bond NT [G10-control; G11-NaOCl solution; G12-NaOCl gel]. Dentin was etched, rinsed, and blot dried. For the experimental groups, after acid etching, 10% NaOCl solution or 10% NaOCl gel was applied for 60 s, rinsed, and blot dried. Composite resin was inserted and light cured. Shear bond strengths were tested with a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. The mean values MPa (SD) were analyzed with two-way ANOVA and Tukey's tests (alpha < 0.01). Ten percent NaOCl solution significantly increased Gluma One Bond strength. No effect was observed for the other adhesives. The 10% NaOCl gel did not affect bond strengths. Ten percent NaOCl gel was less effective on collagen removal as compared to 10% NaOCl solution. The influence of collagen removal on bond strength is dependent on adhesive system, where both the solvent and the monomer can influence the results.     

Differential effect of in vitro degradation on resin-dentin bonds produced by self-etch versus total-etch adhesives

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of an in vitro challenge (NaOCl immersion) on microtensile bond strength (MTBS) of five adhesive systems to dentin. METHODS: Flat dentin surfaces from 40 molars were bonded with three total-etch adhesives (Single Bond, Prime&Bond NT and the experimental Prime&Bond XP), and two self-etching agents (Clearfil SE Bond and Etch&Prime 3.0). Composite build-ups were constructed with Tetric Ceram. Teeth were then sectioned into beams of 1.0 mm2 cross-sectional area. Half of the beams were immersed in 10% NaOCl aqueous solution for 5 h. Each beam was tested in tension in an Instron machine at 0.5 mm/min. Data were analyzed by 2-way ANOVA and multiple comparisons tests (p < 0.05). RESULTS: Clearfil SE Bond and Single Bond attained higher MTBS than the other three adhesives. Prime&Bond NT and Prime&Bond XP performed equally, and Etch&Prime resulted in the lowest MTBS. After NaOCl immersion, MTBS decreased in all groups. The highest MTBS values were obtained for Clearfil SE Bond and Prime&Bond XP. Scaning electron microscopy observation of debonded sticks evidenced dissolution and microstructural alterations of intertubular dentin, except when Clearfil SE Bond was used. CONCLUSIONS: Resin-dentin bonds are prone to chemical degradation. The extent of the resin degradation is adhesive system specific. Chemical degradation of the nonresin infiltrated collagen fibers does also exist in total-etch adhesives. Both processes may reduce long-term resin-dentin bond strength.     

A challenge to the conventional wisdom that simultaneous etching and resin infiltration always occurs in self-etch adhesives

This study provided morphological evidence that discrepancies between the depth of demineralisation and the depth of resin infiltration can occur in some mild self-etch adhesives. Sound dentine specimens derived from extracted human third molars were bonded with 5 one-step and 5 two-step self-etch adhesives. One millimeter thick slabs containing the resin-dentine interfaces were immersed in 50 wt% aqueous ammoniacal silver nitrate and processed for TEM examination. A zone of partially etched but uninfiltrated dentine was identified beneath the hybrid layers in the milder versions of both one-step and two-step self-etch adhesives. This zone was characterised by the occurrence of silver deposits along the interfibrillar spaces of mineralised collagen fibrils. The silver infiltrated interfibrillar spaces were clearly identified from the one-step self-etch adhesives Xeno III, iBond, Brush&Bond and the experimental adhesive, and were thinner and only occasionally observed in the two-step self-etch adhesives Clearfil SE Bond and Clearfil Protect Bond. The more aggressive one-step and two-step adhesives that exhibit more abrupt transitions from completely demineralised to mineralised dentin were devoid of these silver-infiltrated interfibrillar spaces beneath the hybrid layers. Incomplete resin infiltration observed in some self-etch adhesives may be caused by the reduced etching potential of the acidic monomers toward the base of hybrid layers, or the presence of acidic but non-polymerisable hydrolytic adhesive components, creating potential sites for the degradation of the bonded created by these self-etch adhesives.     

Nanoleakage within the hybrid layer: a correlative FEISEM/TEM investigation

The aim of this study was to compare the nanoleakage patterns of the resin-dentin interfaces of three dentin bonding systems at both TEM and field emission in lens SEM (FEI-SEM) levels. A standardized smear layer was created with 180-grit silicon carbide paper (SiC) on dentin disks obtained from 18 noncarious human third molars. Specimens were randomly divided into three groups and bonded with a two-step total etching adhesive (Single Bond, SB), a two-step, self-etching adhesive (Clearfil SE BOND, SEB), and a one-step, self-etching adhesive (XENO III, XEIII). Nanoleakage was evaluated by using an ammoniacal silver-nitrate solution. Specimens were processed for TEM and FEI-SEM observation. The TEM of SB revealed silver deposits in adhesive and hybrid layers (HL). High-magnification FEI-SEM micrographs clearly identified these deposits as spherical clusters mainly associated with nonembedded collagen fibrils. TEM and FEI-SEM examination of SEB revealed some clusters of silver deposits within porosities and small channels of the HL. Additional silver deposits were observed between the peritubular dentin walls and the resin tags. XEIII revealed very fine and diffuse silver grains throughout the entire HL. SEM visualization of nanoleakage at a high level of resolution has not been previously described. FEI-SEM technology supported the TEM visualization with three-dimensional morphological data of the relations between the HL constituents and nanoleakage. The results of the present study confirm the hypothesis that both total- and self-etch adhesives are not able to fully infiltrate the dentin substrate.     

Importance of the hybrid layer on the bond strength of restorations subjected to cyclic loading

The present study evaluated the long-term microtensile bond strength of collagen-depleted dentin followed by cyclic loading. Bovine flat, midcoronal dentin received one of the following surface treatments: acid-etch or acid-etched + 5% NaOCl for 2 min. The teeth were restored with Single Bond, Scotchbond Multi-purpose, One-Step Plus, or All-Bond 2 adhesive systems. Half of the specimens were randomly assigned to receive 200,000 cycles (50 N force). Teeth were sectioned into 1 x 1 mm thick slices and stored for 24 h, 1 month, 3 months, or 6 months. Specimens were subjected to tensile testing after elapsed storage time. Samples were analyzed by three-way ANOVA and Fisher's PLSD (p < 0.05). The results showed that the deproteinized groups without cyclic loading presented lower bond strength when compared with the control group, but the difference was only statistically significant for Single Bond and All-Bond 2 (p < 0.05). All adhesives presented a decrease in bond strength over time, regardless of the dentin treatment. When cyclic loaded, the decrease in bond strength for the deproteinized group was even greater when compared with the control group (p < 0.05). The results suggest that the hybrid layer is important as a stress-buffering layer when loading is applied, and thus the presence of collagen is essential.     

Adhesive phase separation at the dentin interface under wet bonding conditions

Under in vivo conditions, there is little control over the amount of water left on the tooth and, thus, there is the danger of leaving the dentin surface so wet that the bonding resin undergoes physical separation into hydrophobic and hydrophilic-rich phases. The purpose of this study was to investigate phase separation in 2,2-bis[4(2-hydroxy-3-methacryloyloxy-propyloxy)-phenyl] propane (BisGMA)-based adhesive using molecular microanalysis and to examine the effect of phase separation on the structural characteristics of the hybrid layer. Model BisGMA/HEMA (hydroxyethl methacrylate) mixtures with/without ethanol and commercial BisGMA-based adhesive (Single Bond) were combined with water at concentrations from 0 to 50 vol%. Macrophase separation in the BisGMA/HEMA/water mixtures was detected using cloud point measurements. In parallel with these measurements, the BisGMA/HEMA and adhesive/water mixtures were cast as films and polymerized. Molecular structure was recorded from the distinct features in the phase-separated adhesive using confocal Raman microspectroscopy (CRM). Human dentin specimens treated with Single Bond were analyzed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and CRM mapping across the dentin/adhesive interface. The model BisGMA/HEMA mixtures with ethanol and the commercial BisGMA-based adhesive experienced phase separation at approximately 25 vol% water. Raman spectra collected from the phase-separated adhesive indicated that the composition of the particles and surrounding matrix material was primarily BisGMA and HEMA, respectively. Based on SEM analysis, there was substantial porosity at the adhesive interface with dentin. Micro-Raman spectral analysis of the dentin/adhesive interface indicates that the contribution from the BisGMA component decreases by nearly 50% within the first micrometer. The morphologic results in corroboration with the spectroscopic data suggest that as a result of adhesive phase separation the hybrid layer is not an impervious 3-dimensional collagen/polymer network but a porous web characterized by hydrophobic BisGMA-rich particles distributed in a hydrophilic HEMA-rich matrix.     

Characterisation of resin-dentine interfaces by compressive cyclic loading

The aims of this in vitro study were to evaluate the ultra-morphological changes in resin-dentine interfaces after different amounts of thermomechanical load (TML), and to determine the corresponding microtensile bond strengths (microTBS). Enamel/dentine discs with a thickness of 2 mm were cut from 24 human third molars and bonded with four adhesives involving different adhesion approaches: Syntac (Ivoclar Vivadent; used as multi-step etch-and-rinse adhesive), Clearfil SE Bond (Kuraray; two-step self-etch adhesive), Xeno III (Dentsply DeTrey; mixed all-in-one self-etch primer adhesive system), and iBond (Heraeus Kulzer; non-mixed all-in-one self-etch adhesive). The resin-dentine discs were cut into beams (width 2 mm; 2 mm dentine, 2 mm resin composite) and subsequently subjected to cyclic TML using ascending amounts of mechanical/thermal cycles (20 N at 0.5 Hz of mechanical load and 5-55 degrees C of thermal cycles: for 0/0, 100/3, 1,000/25, 10,000/250, 100,000/2,500 cycles). Loaded specimens were either cut perpendicularly in order to measure microTBS (n=20; crosshead speed: 1 mm/min) or were immersed in an aqueous tracer solution consisting of 50 wt% ammoniacal silver nitrate and processed for ultra-morphological nanoleakage examination using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). microTBS were significantly decreased by increasing amounts of TML for all adhesives (p<0.05). Bond strengths after 0 vs. 100,000 thermomechanical cycles were: Syntac: 41.3/30.1 MPa; Clearfil SE Bond 44.8/32.5 MPa; Xeno III 27.5/13.7 MPa; iBond 27.0/6.2 MPa. Relatively early, a certain amount of nanoleakage was observed in all groups by TEM, which was more pronounced for Xeno III and iBond. The incidence of nanoleakage remained stable or was even reduced with increasing load cycles for all adhesives except iBond, where exact failure origins were detected within the adhesive and at the top of the hybrid layer.     

Deproteinizing effects on resin-tooth bond structures

This study investigated the effects of NaOCl on resin-tooth bonds to simulate the situations of long-term durability and caries invasion. Resin-tooth bonded specimens were produced with the use of two resin adhesives (Excite and One-Bond). Resin-tooth bonded beams (adhesive area; 0.9 mm2) were serially sectioned and the specimens were immersed in 10% NaOCl medium for 0 (control), 2, 4, and 6 h after being stored in water for 24 h. After immersion, microtensile bond tests were performed. SEM fractography was conducted to calculate each failure mode by image analysis. In addition, the adhesive interface was examined with the use of TEM. In the control specimens, enamel bond strengths had no difference between Excite (45.6 +/- 15.0) and One-Bond (56.9 +/- 12.9). On the other hand, dentin bond strengths had significant difference between Excite (80.6 +/- 21.2) and One-Bond (50.7 +/- 11.2). The bond strengths decreased with increased storage time for both systems with enamel and dentin bonds. The deteriorated mineralized dentin of beams resulted in bond-strength reduction for resin-enamel bonds. For dentin bonding, the adhesive interface was gradually dissolved from the outer to the center portion of the beam. The depletion of collagen fibrils within the demineralized dentin or hybrid layer deformation was found under SEM and TEM examinations. These morphological changes are responsible for bond strength reduction of resin-dentin bonds.     

The importance of size-exclusion characteristics of type I collagen in bonding to dentin matrices

The mineral phase of dentin is located primarily within collagen fibrils. During development, bone or dentin collagen fibrils are formed first and then water within the fibril is replaced with apatite crystallites. Mineralized collagen contains very little water. During dentin bonding, acid-etching of mineralized dentin solubilizes the mineral crystallites and replaces them with water. During the infiltration phase of dentin bonding, adhesive comonomers are supposed to replace all of the collagen water with adhesive monomers that are then polymerized into copolymers. The authors of a recently published review suggested that dental monomers were too large to enter and displace water from collagen fibrils. If that were true, the endogenous proteases bound to dentin collagen could be responsible for unimpeded collagen degradation that is responsible for the poor durability of resin–dentin bonds. The current work studied the size–exclusion characteristics of dentin collagen, using a gel-filtration-like column chromatography technique, using dentin powder instead of Sephadex. The elution volumes of test molecules, including adhesive monomers, revealed that adhesive monomers smaller than ～1000 Da can freely diffuse into collagen water, while molecules of 10,000 Da begin to be excluded, and bovine serum albumin (66,000 Da) was fully excluded. These results validate the concept that dental monomers can permeate between collagen molecules during infiltration by etch-and-rinse adhesives in water-saturated matrices.     

Influence of organic acids present in the oral biofilm on the microtensile bond strength of adhesive systems to human dentin

This study evaluated the influence of organic acids present in the oral biofilm on the microtensile bond strength (μTBS) of adhesive systems to human dentin. Sixty occlusal dentin surfaces were wet ground with 600 grit SiC abrasive paper and divided into four groups according to the adhesive systems: Scotchbond Multipurpose (SMP), Adper Single Bond 2, Adper Scotchbond SE (ASE), and Clearfill SE Bond (CSE). After the adhesive systems were applied, a block of resin composite was built up on the dentin surfaces. After 24 h storage in distilled water at 37°C, the teeth were perpendicularly cut to obtain beams (1 mm(2)). For each adhesive system, the beams were divided into three groups according to storage media: artificial saliva (AS); propionic acid (PA), and lactic acid (LA). After 7 days storage at 37°C, the beams were submitted to μTBS testing. The μTBS ranged from 36.0 ± 1.6 (ASE-PA) to 52.5 ± 1.2 (CSE-AS). For all adhesive systems, the μTBS values after storage in PA were lower than those in AS. Except for the SMP, the values of μTBS after storage in LA were lower than those in AS. The adhesive ASE presented the lowest values of μTBs in the three media. The acids present in the oral biofilm may affect the bond strength of adhesive systems to human dentin.     

Degradation patterns of different adhesives and bonding procedures

Various types of resin adhesives and procedures are available in the clinical field, so comprehensive understanding of degradation is required for each material and bonding procedure. The objective of this study was to investigate the bond durability for different adhesives and bonding procedures. Resin-dentin bonded beams were prepared with the use of two adhesives (One-Up Bond F/self-etching primer system and One Bond/total-etch adhesive) and two experimental groups for the bonding procedure (wet and dry bonding of the total-etch adhesive). Those samples were soaked in water for 24 h(control), 6 and 12 months. After the water immersion, the bond strengths were measured by the microtensile bond test, and subsequently fractography was performed with the use of SEM. Statistically significant reduction of the bond strength (p < 0.05) was apparent after 12 months of water exposure in the range 22-48% of the control. The bonding resin was eluted from the hybrid layer of the self-etching and the total-etch adhesives for the wet bonding. Micromorphological alterations were found due to the hydrolysis of collagen fibrils with the total-etch adhesive for the dry bonding mode. These pathologic alterations were in accord with the bond strength.     

The effect of NaOCl dentin treatment on nanoleakage formation

The term "nanoleakage" has been introduced to explain a penetration pathway within hybrid layers of the dentin-composite junction in the absence of gap formation. This phenomenon is argued in the literature to be a risk factor for the quality of the dentin bonding. NaOCl is a well-known agent used to remove collagen layers that are exposed after acid etching. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of an NaOCl treatment of dentin to the formation of nanoleakage. Class V cavities were prepared in 40 human molars with the cervical margins located in dentin. After etching with phosphoric acid, 20 samples were treated with 10% NaOCl for 60 s, and 20 samples were used as control. Composite restorations were placed using two different bonding systems. The specimen were exposed in silver nitrate solution and then in developer. After embedding, the teeth were sectioned, dried, coated with gold, and analyzed by SEM. For all the specimen in the control group, backscatter images indicated a silver penetration within the hybrid layer. There was no penetration of silver detectable in the teeth that were treated with NaOCl. We conclude that the removal of the collagen layer by using NaOCl avoids the formation of nanoleakages with the materials tested.     

改性牙本质粘接剂对抗变形链球菌的性能

背景：研究证实粘接修复技术治疗龋病过程中,龋洞预备后残留的细菌可在牙体组织与修复体之间继续生存较长时间,诱发继发龋或牙髓的慢性炎症。 目的：评价经甲基丙烯酰氧十二烷基溴吡单体改性树脂基粘接剂对变形链球菌的抗菌性能。 方法：制备含质量分数0(阴性对照),1%,2%,3%,4%甲基丙烯酰氧十二烷基溴吡抗菌单体的实验性GLUMA Comfort Bond粘接剂样本,以Clearfil Protect bond粘接剂为阳性对照;分别涂布在复合树脂试件表面并固化,在变形链球菌液体培养基中进行培养,培养18 h后检测菌液的A值、pH值。 结果与结论：GLUMA Comfort Bond粘接剂对变形链球菌生长及产酸能力无明显抑制作用,Clearfil Protect bond粘接剂对变形链球菌生长及产酸能力有明显抑制作用。含1%,2%甲基丙烯酰氧十二烷基溴吡抗菌单体的GLUMA Comfort Bond粘接剂对变形链球菌生长及产酸能力的抑制作用与阴性对照组相当(P > 0.05),含3%,4%甲基丙烯酰氧十二烷基溴吡抗菌单体的GLUMA Comfort Bond粘接剂固化后对变形链球菌生长及产酸能力的抑制作用与阳性对照组相当(P > 0.05)。表明添加了3%,4%甲基丙烯酰氧十二烷基溴吡抗菌单体的实验性抗菌粘接试件具有良好的抗菌性能。     

Glycosaminoglycan mimetics (RGTA) modulate adult skeletal muscle satellite cell proliferation in vitro

Confocal Raman microspectroscopy (CRM) provides an important and novel means of analyzing the chemical composition of the adhesive/dentin (a/d) interface. The purpose of this study was to develop a method for quantitative determination of the degree of adhesive penetration at the a/d interface using CRM. Three commercial dentin adhesive systems [Scotchbond Multipurpose Plus (SBMP+), Single Bond (SB), and Primer Bond NT (PBNT)] based on the total etch and "wet" bonding technique were examined in this study. Human dentin specimens treated with these adhesives were analyzed with CRM mapping across the a/d interface. Also, Raman spectra were collected on model mixtures of adhesive and type I collagen, and the ratios of the relative intensities of the Raman bands corresponding to adhesive and collagen were used for the construction of calibration curves. By comparing the Raman band ratios of interface specimens to the calibration curves, the percent of adhesive as a function of spatial position across the a/d interface was determined. The results show that there is a gradual decrease in penetration as a function of position for all three adhesive systems while the adhesive concentration gradient decreases in the order of SBMP+ > SB > PBNT. These differences in penetration of the three adhesives at the a/d interface also are discussed relative to the composition and phase segregation in adhesives. Additionally, our results indicate that confocal Raman microspectroscopy is a reliable in situ analytical technique for simple and rapid quantitative determination of adhesive penetration at its interface with prepared dentin.     

Interaction patterns between dentin and adhesive on prepared class V cavities in vitro and in vivo

The interface between dentin and an acetone-based single-component adhesive system (Prime&Bond 2.1, DeTrey Dentsply, Germany) was morphologically investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Interaction patterns of human teeth were correlated in vivo and in vitro. The SEM examination proved that the formation of a hybrid and an adhesive layer, the peri- and intratubular adhesive penetration, as well as hiatus and nanoleakage formation were no different on vital and nonvital dentin within the limitation of the experimental arrangement of this study.     

Overestimating hybrid layer quality in polished adhesive/dentin interfaces

The most popular techniques for determining the quality of the hybrid layer (HL) have relied on morphologic characterization of the polished adhesive/dentin (a/d) interfaces before and after acid-bleach chemical treatment. Using these techniques, the existence of smooth, acid-resistant layers has been consistently reported for most adhesive systems. The purpose of this study was to determine whether popular specimen preparation techniques that include polishing and acid-bleach treatment modify the a/d interface, mask the complexity of the HL, and lead to inaccurate assessment of the quality of the HL. To understand the impact of specimen preparation techniques on the morphology of the resin-dentin interface, polished and unpolished specimens from the same tooth were closely compared after different acid-bleach chemical treatment procedures. Two one-bottle adhesives, that is, 3M Single Bond and Pulpdent UNO, exhibiting distinct differences in hydrophilic/hydrophobic composition, were used in this investigation. Using specimens from the same tooth, the effect of chemical treatments on the morphology of the resin-dentin interdiffusion zone and the differences in the morphology of polished and unpolished specimens after these same treatments were studied with scanning electron microscopy. It was shown that conventional specimen preparation techniques that include polishing and acid-bleach treatment can adversely affect and even obscure the structural detail of the a/d interface in specimens that possess a porous HL. The results indicated that the Pulpdent UNO/dentin interface had better quality than the 3M Single Bond/dentin interface. The difference in the quality of HL can be attributed to factors such as compositional differences that impact the adhesive interaction with water, that is present within the substrate during wet bonding. The inability of the conventional acid-bleach procedure to reveal the differences in the scanning electron microscopy interfacial morphology was overcome in this investigation by using a multistep technique.     

Ultramorphological analysis of resin-dentin interfaces produced with water-based single-step and two-step adhesives: nanoleakage expression

This study evaluated the nanoleakage patterns in bonded interfaces using two single-step, self-etching adhesives (Adper Prompt-AD, and One-up Bond F-OB), two two-step, self-etching primers (Clearfil SE Bond-CF, and Unifil Bond-UB), and one two-step, total-etch adhesive (Single Bond-SB). Dentin surfaces were bonded with the adhesive systems and stored in water at 37 degrees C for 1 week and 6 months. After storage periods, teeth were sectioned into 0.8 mm-thick slabs, coated with nail varnish except for the bonded interfaces, and immersed in ammoniacal AgNO(3) for 24 h. After immersion in photodeveloping solution, bonded sections were prepared and observed under a SEM using the backscattered electron mode. Undemineralized, unstained, epoxy resin-embedded sections were prepared for TEM. Nanoleakage patterns were qualitatively compared between periods. Nanoleakage was observed in all bonded specimens at both periods. CF and UB presented silver deposits predominantly restricted to the thin (0.5 microm) hybrid layer (HL) at both periods. Although no evident differences were observed in the nanoleakage pattern of UB at 7 days and 6 months, CF presented enlarged areas of silver impregnation after 6 months. SB presented accumulation of silver particles mostly within the HL at 7 days, which was intensified after 6 months. AD and OB presented massive silver accumulation within the HL and the overlying adhesive layer. No evident differences were noticed between storage periods. Silver impregnation increased for all adhesive systems from 7 days to 6 months, except for UB.     

Effect of hydration variability on hybrid layer properties of a self-etching versus an acid-etching system

The hypothesis tested in this study was that the self-etching system (Clearfil SE Bond, CSE) is less sensitive to surface moisture variability than the system that uses a separate acid-etching step (Single Bond, SB). Eighteen dentin specimens were bonded to composite using CSE or SB. Three different surface moisture conditions per bonding type (overwet, w; dry, d; and visibly moist, n [normal]) were applied prior to bonding dentin to composite. One cross section of each sample was analyzed with lines of nanoindentations crossing perpendicular to the bonding interface. An additional set of bonded samples was fixed and cross sectioned before the hybrid layer thickness was measured in scanning electron microscopy. The nanoindentations revealed significant differences in indentation modulus (E(i)) and hardness (H) for the hybrid layer comparing SBn, E(i) = 2.7(+/-1.6); H = 0.24(+/-0.1) GPa with SBd, E(i) = 0.9(+/-0.7); H = 0.9(+/-0.05) GPa, respectively, while CSE showed no differences among the groups. A significantly greater demineralized zone below the hybrid layer was found for SBd. The hybrid layer was wider for both CSEd and SBd. In conclusion the hypothesis was verified; CSE exhibited no significant changes of hybrid layer properties (E(i), H) at different hydration conditions, while SB had significant differences, especially after air-drying.     

Influence of adhesive systems and flowable composite lining on bond strength of class II restorations submitted to thermal and mechanical stresses

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of adhesive systems and flowable composite lining on bond strength to gingival margins of Class II restorations after thermal/mechanical stresses. Proximal cavities were prepared in 90 bovine incisors. Teeth were assigned into nine groups (n = 10), according to the combination of bonding agent [Single Bond (SB), Optibond Solo Plus (OP), Prime & Bond NT (NT)] and layer (1 mm) of flowable composite Filtek Flow (FF) [absent, one layer, two layers]. Materials were applied according to manufacturers' instructions, and FF layers were photoactivated separately. Restorations were concluded with composite resin and were submitted to thermal (1000x, 5-55 degrees C) and mechanical stresses (100,000x, 80 N). For microtensile evaluation, slabs from the gingival bonded interface were obtained, tested under tension, and their failure mode was observed by scanning electron microscopy. Bond strength data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA/Tukey's test. No interaction was observed between adhesive systems and FF lining (p = 0.89). Also, no significant difference was found between bond strength values, whether or not FF layers were used (p = 0.33). However, bonding systems demonstrated significant differences (p = 0.01). SB and NT presented means higher than those observed with OP. Fracture modes varied considerably between experimental groups, and a greater frequency of cohesive failures was noted when FF layers were used.