Shear bond strength of Scotchbond in vivo

The shear bond strengths of Scotchbond, HEMA/Scotchbond, and Scotchbond 2 were measured in vivo in dog canine and molar enamel and dentin. Dentin bond strengths were compared in superficial, middle, and deep dentin. The acid-etched enamel bond strengths of the three bonding systems ranged from 10 to 11 MPa and were not statistically different. Scotchbond/Silux bonds to superficial and middle cuspid and molar dentin were 3 MPa and were not statistically different. HEMA-treated dentin did not consistently improve Scotchbond strengths to either tooth type at any dentin depth. Deep dentin from either tooth type yielded significantly lower bond strengths. Scotchbond 2/Silux shear bond strengths were significantly higher (6-8 MPa) in superficial and middle cuspid dentin but were not different from Scotchbond bonds made to deep cuspid dentin or to any depth of molar dentin. The observation that molar bond strengths are lower than those made to cuspid dentin indicates that there are important substrate differences between teeth as well as within dentin as a function of depth. The dog model may be useful for the screening of new dentin bonding systems prior to clinical trials.