Self-etching bonding systems: in-vitro micro-leakage evaluation.

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Adhesive Dentistry

Background:

• Micro-leakage is a critical factor in the longevity of dental restorations.
• Self-etching bonding agents offer simplified clinical application compared to total-etch systems.
• Evaluating micro-leakage is essential for assessing the clinical performance of new bonding agents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the in vitro micro-leakage of six self-etching bonding agents against a total-etch control.
• To determine the efficacy of different self-etching bonding agents at enamel and dentine margins.

Main Methods:

• Seven groups of human third molars were prepared and restored with different bonding agents and composite resin.
• Restored teeth underwent thermocycling and immersion in basic Fuchsin dye.
• Micro-leakage was evaluated at occlusal enamel and cervical dentine margins using light microscopy.

Main Results:

• Clearfil SE Bond and ABF (Protect Bond) exhibited micro-leakage values comparable to the control (Scotchbond Multipurpose Plus).
• The other self-etching bonding agents demonstrated significantly higher micro-leakage.
• No significant difference was found in micro-leakage between enamel and dentine margins for the best-performing agents.

Conclusions:

• Clearfil SE Bond and ABF (Protect Bond) are clinically acceptable alternatives to Scotchbond Multipurpose Plus regarding micro-leakage.
• The selection of appropriate self-etching bonding agents is crucial for minimizing micro-leakage and ensuring restoration success.
• Further clinical studies are warranted to confirm these in vitro findings.