Microtensile bond strength of different adhesive systems to primary and permanent dentin.

PURPOSE The aims of this in vitro study were to: (1) compare bond strength of different adhesive systems to primary and permanent dentin using microtensile test; and (2) evaluate the interaction of these materials to primary and permanent dentin by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). METHODS Middle-coronal dentin surfaces of 18 exfoliated primary and 18 extracted permanent molars were exposed and teeth were randomly divided, according to their adhesive system, into 3 groups (N=6 per group): (1) Clearfil SE Bond (SE); (2) One Up Bond F (OU); and (3) Single Bond (SB). Then, 5-mm high composite blocks were constructed. After bonding procedures, the teeth were stored in distilled water at 37 degrees C for 24 hours prior to the specimens' preparation. For the microtensile test, teeth (N=5 per group) were longitudinally sectioned into 2 axes rendering beam-specimens that were glued to special devices, which were mounted in a Universal Testing Machine to be loaded under a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min until fracture. One tooth of each group was prepared for SEM. RESULTS Microtensile bond strength mean values (MPa) to primary/permanent dentin were: (1) SE=60.0/61.4; (2) OU=54.5/53.3; and (3) SB=70.1/64.9. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed no significant differences (P>.05) for the bond strength values among primary and permanent dentin groups, neither among groups SExSB and SExOU. SEM images of SE and SB showed a well-defined, uniform, and continuous hybrid layer. A continuous hybrid layer, however, was not found for OU. CONCLUSIONS Bond strength and micromorphologic characteristics of the adhesive systems evaluated were not influenced by the substrate. OU achieved worse results.