Effect of elapsed time following bleaching on the shear bond strength of composite resin to enamel

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of post-treatment time on the shear bond strength of composite resin to enamel after bleaching with 10% carbamide peroxide (CP) and 35% hydrogen peroxide (HP) bleaching systems. One hundred and thirty-five flattened labial enamel surfaces obtained from human mandibular incisors were divided into two bleaching groups of 10% CP (n = 60) and 35% HP (n = 60) and a control group (n = 15). Specimens in the control group (group 1) were not bleached. Each bleaching group was then divided into four subgroups (n = 15). For both CP and HP groups, group 2 consisted of specimens bonded immediately after bleaching. In groups 3, 4, and 5, specimens were immersed in artificial saliva for 24 h, 1 week, or 2 weeks after bleaching, respectively. After the specimens were bonded with Clearfil SE Bond and Clearfil ST, they were tested in shear until failure. For both CP and HP groups, shear bond strength of composite resin to enamel that was bonded immediately after bleaching was significantly lower than that of unbleached enamel (p < 0.05). However, in CP group restored after 24 h, the bond strength returned to values close to those of nonbleached enamel (p > 0.05). It took 1 week to return to conditions that lead to control bond values for HP bleaching applications (p > 0.05). The results of this study proved that immediate bonding of composite to enamel bleached with 10% CP and 35% HP gels result in a significant decrease in shear bond strength. It is advisable that composite resin application onto bleached enamel surfaces should be delayed at least 24 h for 10% CP and 1 week for 35% HP.