Ethanol Treatment: Influence on Bond Strength Durability to Sound and Caries-Affected Dentin

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate both ethanol treatment effects on and longevity of tensile bond strength of a self-etching adhesive system to sound and caries-affected dentin.
Methods: A two-step self-etching adhesive system (Clearfil SE Bond) was applied to the occlusal dentin of 40 third molars, 20 of which were subjected to procedures to obtain caries-affected dentin. The system was applied according to the manufacturer's recommendation (control) or was associated with a surface treatment of 100% ethanol for 60 seconds before using the adhesive procedures (n=10), followed by increments of composite resin. The specimens were stored in distilled water storage for 24 hours or 180 days, after which they underwent microtensile testing. The test data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA), according to a scheme of subdivided portions (α=5%).
Results: The groups with ethanol pretreatment presented significantly higher resistance means (p<0.05) than those without it. There was no significant difference between sound and caries-affected dentin, or between the storage periods (p=0.2268).
Conclusions: It was concluded that the bond strength of the self-etching adhesive system to sound and caries-affected dentin was benefited by the prior use of 100% ethanol, regardless of the time period.