Strength of posterior composite repairs using different composite/bonding agent combinations

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Restorative Dentistry

Background:

• Posterior composite restorations are increasingly used as an alternative to amalgam.
• The rising prevalence of composite use necessitates effective repair strategies for aged restorations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the bond strength of repaired posterior composite restorations using various bonding agent/composite combinations.
• To compare the bond strength of different repair systems to aged posterior composite substrates.

Main Methods:

• Aged posterior composite substrates were prepared.
• Repairs were performed using different dentin bonding agent/composite pairs and enamel bonding agent/composite pairs.
• The bond strength of the repaired specimens was measured and compared.

Main Results:

• Dentin bonding agent/composite pairs demonstrated the highest bond strengths.
• The bond strength achieved with dentin bonding agents exceeded that of resin bonded to etched enamel.
• Enamel bonding agent/composite repairs yielded the lowest bond strengths, falling below resin/etched enamel bond strengths.

Conclusions:

• Dentin bonding agents are effective for repairing aged posterior composite restorations, providing superior bond strength.
• Enamel bonding agents are less suitable for posterior composite repairs, resulting in weaker bonds.
• The choice of bonding agent significantly impacts the success of posterior composite repair.