Etchant composition and bond strength to dentin.

This in vitro study examined the effects of three different types of acid etchants on the bond strengths of three dentin bonding systems. The etchant free of both silica and oxalate provided the highest bond strengths for all three systems. Use of the etchant containing oxalate resulted on the lowest bond strengths for all three systems. It is suggested that bond strengths vary as a consequence of deposition onto the dentin surface of various minerals or salts found in the etchants. It is recommended that if treatment of dentin with acids is indicated it should probably be done with those etchants containing neither silica nor oxalate.