Bond Strength of Self-etching Adhesive Systems to Enamel and Dentine

Objectives: The objective of this in-vitro study was to evaluate the shear bond strength of three self-etching bonding systems to human enamel and dentine. Methods: Eighty (80) freshly extracted, third molars were imbedded in acrylic in sample rings and ground to expose 40, flat occlusal enamel and superficial dentine surfaces. The specimens were further ground wet with 600 grit SiC paper to produce a uniform smear-layer. The materials tested were Clearfil SE Bond (SEB, Kuraray), Protect Bond (PB, Kuraray), Tri-S Bond (3S, Kuraray) and Scotchbond Multi-Purpose Plus (SBMP, 3M ESPE), the latter which was used as control. The adhesive systems were applied according to the manufacturer's instructions. For each bonding agent, ten resin stubs were cured on prepared tooth surfaces using a Ultradent jig and two layers of Z100(3M ESPE)composite. After allowing the bonds to mature for 12 hours at 35 degrees centigrade the bonds were stressed to failure with an Instron testing machine, operating at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. Results: The data was statistically analysed (ANOVA). The mean SBS (MPa) for Enamel were: SBMP (Control)=30.86±6.2 ; SEB=33.80±4.9 ; PB=32.42±4.8 ; 3S=22.32±2.45 and for Dentine: SBMP (Control)=24.9±4.70 ; SEB=37.4±7.25 ; PB=27.32±6.51 ; 3S=22.79±3.07. Conclusions: The results of this in-vitro study showed that the enamel bond strengths of SEB and PB and the dentine bond strengths of 3S and PB were statistically comparable to the control (p<0.01). The dentine bond strength of SEB was statistically higher than that of the control (p<0.01). All three self-etching products bonded effectively to both enamel and dentine.