Cavity Preparation Tools and their Impact on Bonding

The way of preparation of enamel and dentin surfaces prior to bonding procedures significantly influences the bonding effectiveness of current adhesives. In light of the current trend towards ‘minimal invasive' dentistry, diverse cavity preparation techniques have been introduced as an alternative or addition to common bur instrumentation. Sono-abrasion involves the use of a modified sonic air-scaler handpiece equipped with a diamond-coated working tip that is activated through ultrasonic frequency oscillations. Air abrasion utilizes kinetic energy, generated by a high-velocity stream of aluminum oxide particles, to prepare hard tissue. Laser technology and in particular the ErYAG and YSGG laser with an ultra-short square pulse technology have also been advocated especially to prepare micro-cavities. This lecture will present the effect these three cavity preparation methods have on both the enamel and dentin substrate, as compared to that of conventional diamond bur instrumentation. Furthermore, data will be presented on the bonding effectiveness of adhesives to diversely prepared tooth substrates.