Micro-tensile bond strength of sound and caries-affected primary tooth dentin measured with original designed jig

To measure the micro-tensile bond strength (MTBS) on sound and caries-affected primary tooth dentin using an original designed jig that was developed for making symmetric and uniformly-sized specimens for the micro-tensile strength testing. The MTBS of dumbbell-shaped specimens and matchstick-shaped specimens were measured. Dumbbell-shaped specimens: The occlusal surfaces of 15 sound primary molars were ground with a water-cooled air turbine using a diamond bur. The adhesive systems and resin-based composites were Clearfil SE Bond and Clearfil AP-X (SE group) and Single Bond and Z250 (SB group). Matchstick-shaped specimens: Sixteen primary molars (5 sound and 11 carious) were used. The occlusal surfaces of sound teeth were ground with a water-cooled air turbine using a diamond bur. Infected dentin was determined by a caries detecting dye solution and removed with a round-shaped steel bur under water-cooling and with a hand instrument. SE was applied. Data was statistically analyzed using ANOVA and Fisher's PLSD at p < 0.05. The MTBSs (MPa) for the dumbbell-shaped specimens were 8.9 +/- 7.0 in the SE group and 10.3 +/- 5.8 in the SB group and that for the matchstick-shaped specimens were 9.0 +/- 6.3 in the sound-SE group and 9.2 +/- 5.8 in the carious-SE group. No significant difference was observed among them.