Influence of acid etching and enamel beveling on the 6-month clinical performance of a self-etch dentin adhesive

This study tested the hypothesis that beveling and/or etching enamel does not affect the 6-month clinical performance of the self-etch adhesive Clearfil SE Bond in class V noncarious lesions. With Institutional Review Board approval, 34 patients were enrolled in this study. A total of 120 noncarious cervical lesions were selected and assigned to 4 groups: (1) Clearfil SE Bond was applied without any cavity preparation; (2) After the enamel was beveled, Clearfil SE Bond was applied; (3) After the enamel was etched for 15 seconds with 35% phosphoric acid, Clearfil SE Bond was applied; (4) After the enamel was beveled and etched with 35% phosphoric acid for 15 seconds, Clearfil SE Bond was applied. A microfilled composite resin was used for all restorations. Six months after initial placement, 120 restorations (a 100% recall rate) were re-evaluated. Retention rates at 6 months were 100% for all groups. Sensitivity to air improved from baseline to 6 months, but the overall difference was not statistically significant. The 6-month retention rate of the self etch dentin adhesive system Clearfil SE Bond was not improved by enamel beveling or by enamel etching. For the self-etch material Clearfil SE Bond, instrumentation or etching of enamel may not be critical for its clinical performance at 6 months.