Effect of saliva contamination on the bond of dentin to resin-modified glass-ionomer cement.

This in vitro study compared the shear bond strength of a resin-modified glass-ionomer restorative material (Fuji II LC) bonded to saliva-contaminated dentin versus non-contaminated dentin. Seventy-five extracted human molar teeth were randomly divided into five groups of 15 samples each. The dentin was treated with 10% polyacrylic acid for 20 seconds, rinsed, and dried. The acid-treated dentin surfaces in Groups 1-4 were contaminated with saliva. In Group 1, the saliva was air thinned. In Groups 2-4, saliva was dried completely with compressed air. The saliva-contaminated dentin in Group 3 was rinsed and dried. The saliva-contaminated dentin in Group 4 was rinsed, dried, treated with 10% polyacrylic acid, and dried. Specimens in Group 5 received no contamination. The resin-modified glass-ionomer cement restorative material was mixed and applied to the dentin surfaces. Following placement of the restorative material and 7 days of storage, the specimens were thermo-cycled 300 times. Using the Instron Universal Testing Machine, a shear force was applied to the restorative material. Shear bond strength values were compared among the groups using a one-way ANOVA and Student-Neuman-Keuls Multiple Range Test (alpha = 0.05). The non-contaminated specimens (Group 5) were significantly stronger than the contaminated specimens (Groups 1-4). There were no significant differences in bond strength among the groups containing contaminated specimens. Salivary contamination occurring after dentin etching significantly reduced the bond strength of the resin-modified glass-ionomer restorative material to dentin. Neither rinsing nor rinsing and re-etching resulted in bond strengths as great as to non-contaminated dentin.