Enamel shear bond strengths after vital bleaching

This study examined the shear bond strengths of enamel bond formed at specific time intervals after the termination of vital bleaching. A total of 160 extracted human anterior teeth were divided into three bleaching treatment (BTx) groups (Superoxol, Proxigel, White & Brite), two bonding agent (BA) subgroups (Scotchbond Dual Cure, Scotchbond 2) and two BA control groups. After BTx for 30 days, bonds were formed at 1, 6 and 24 hours; 3 and 7 days (time interval, TI) post-termination of BTx. A total of 32 groups of n = 5 were used. Bonds were formed in nylon tubes with selected BA and Silux Plus, and ruptured 24 hours later with Instron and cable/loop to measure enamel shear bond strength (SBS). A 3 x 2 x 5 factorial ANOVA and Tukey 95% confidence interval (TCI) detected significant differences between BTx (F = 3.54; TCI = 2.7 MPa), BA (F = 9.73; TCI = 1.8 MPa) and TI (F = 9.39; TCI = 4.1 MPa). The interaction between BTx and TI was slightly significant (F = 2.02); other interactions were not significant. Post-hoc analysis showed 80% of bonds failed at the interface or by mixed cohesive composite/interfacial failure. Scanning electron microscope observations suggested association of increased density of voids in bond area at TI with lowest mean bond strengths. SBS ranged from 42.3 to 106.8% of control.