Micro-tensile bond strength to bovine sclerotic dentine: influence of surface treatment.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of the surface treatment and acid conditioning (AC) time of bovine sclerotic dentine on the micro-tensile bond strength (micro-TBS) to an etch and rinse adhesive system. MATERIALS AND
METHOD: Thirty-six bovine incisors were divided into six groups (n=6): G1 sound dentine submitted to AC for 15s; G2-G6 sclerotic dentine: G2-AC for 15s; G3-AC for 30s; G4-EDTA and AC for 15s; G5-diamond bur and AC for 15s; G6-diamond paste and AC for 15s. An adhesive system was applied to the treated dentine surfaces followed by a hybrid composite inserted in increments and light cured. After 24h storage in water at 37 degrees C, the specimens were perpendicularly cut with a low-speed diamond saw to obtain beams (0.8 mm x 0.8 mm cross-sectional dimensions) for micro-TBS testing. Data was compared by ANOVA followed by Tukey's test (p<or=0.05).
RESULTS: The mean micro-TBS was G1: 18.87+/-5.36 MPa; G2: 12.94+/-2.09 MPa; G3: 11.73+/-0.64 MPa; G4: 11.14+/-1.50 MPa; G5: 22.75+/-4.10 MPa; G6: 22.48+/-2.71 MPa. G1, G5 and G6 presented similar bond strengths significantly higher than those of all other groups.
CONCLUSION: The surface treatment of sclerotic dentine significantly influenced the bond strength to an adhesive system. Mechanical treatment, either using a diamond bur or a diamond paste was able to improve bonding to bovine sclerotic dentine, reaching values similar to bonding to sound dentine.