Materials and Methods: Sixteen bovine incisors were divided into four groups according to dentin bonding techniques and two adhesives (n=4). Group I: Conventional wet bonding + Single Bond, Group II: Conventional wet bonding + Prime & Bond NT, Group III: Ethanol wet bonding + Single Bond 2 and Group IV: Ethanol wet bonding + Prime & Bond NT. The adhesives were applied according to manufacturer's in Group I and II. In Group III and IV, before adhesive application, dentine surfaces were dehydrated with ethanol solutions (%100) 60s for each application. The restored teeth with composite were stored in water for 24h, sectioned into sticks (0.42 mm2) and stressed to failure. Microtensile stress at failure was recorded using a universal testing machine. Three sticks from each tooth were immersed in 50% w/w silver nitrate solution for 24 hours and then immersed in reducer solution. Interfacial silver leakage evaluation was analysed by SEM/EDS. ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests were applied on all quantitative data (p<0,05). Results: The mean micro-TBS (MPa) were; Group I: 34.4±12.6, Group II: 41.6 ± 11.8, Group III: 43.51±13.8 and Group IV: 41.6± 9.1. There was no significant difference among groups (p>0,05). The mean metallic silver concentrations (wt%) within measured areas in the hybrid layers were; Group I: 78.40±2.31, Group II: 71.34±3.5, Group III: 69.82± 5.53, Group IV: 69.64±5.05. There was a significant difference in metallic silver concentration values only between Groups I and III (p<0,05).
Conclusion: The ethanol wet bonding technique may not affect the resin-dentin micro-TBS of etch-and-rinse adhesives. However, the effect of ethanol wet bonding on nanoleakage may depend on the used adhesive agent.