Effect of operator variability on dentin adhesion: students vs. dentists.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the operator variability of two dentin bonding systems. Fourteen undergraduate students and ten dentists of different levels of clinical experience were selected. Tensile bond strengths between resin composite and bovine dentin using dentin adhesive systems (Clearfil Liner Bond II: LB II; Scotchbond Multi-Purpose: MP) bonding systems showed a large scatter among students and dentists. The dentists group demonstrated no statistically significant differences for mean bond strengths between LB II and MP. The student group recorded a statistically greater bond strength using LB II. The mean coefficient of variation of the dentists group showed no statistically significant difference between LB II and MP, however that of the students group was lower with LB II. When using MP, the dentist group demonstrated a lower coefficient of variation than that of the student group. In order to obtain optimal bonding performance, or when beginning the use of a new system, the operator should be aware of the technique sensitivity of some adhesive systems and sensitivity to operator variability.