Bond strength of a sealant to primary and permanent enamel: phosphoric acid versus self-etching adhesive.

PURPOSE The objective of this study was to compare the effect of phosphoric acid and a self-etching adhesive on the short and long-term bond strength of a light-curing sealant to unground primary and permanent enamel. METHODS A light-curing resin sealant (Delton Light Curing Pit & Fissure Sealant-CLEAR) was bonded to the flattest, peripheral surface of 40 primary and 40 permanent molars following conditioning of the cleaned enamel with 38% phosphoric acid or with the self-etching adhesive Prompt L-Pop (N=10/group). After either 1 week or 1 year in water, shear bond strengths were measured. Failure mode was determined in a stereo microscope. RESULTS There was no significant difference in bond strengths between the phosphoric acid-etch and the self-etching adhesive groups, nor between the 1-week and 1-year results (P>.05). However, the bond strengths to primary enamel were lower than those to permanent enamel (P=.0021). The number of pure adhesive failures in each of the 8 groups varied between 0 and 3 (0-30%), and the remaining teeth displayed mixed adhesive-cohesive failures. CONCLUSIONS The self-etching adhesive studied seems an attractive alternative to the acid-etch technique for sealant application in young children where simplifications in the clinical procedure are warranted.