Effect of acid etching time and technique on bond strength of an etch-and-rinse adhesive

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of acid etching time and technique on bond strength of a two-step etch-and-rinse adhesive system to dentin and enamel. Thirty human third molars were mesio-distally sectioned, parallel to the long axis of each tooth, in two halves. Buccal/lingual surfaces were abraded to obtain both flat exposed enamel and dentine. The etchant was applied with and without the use of dispensing tips provided by manufacturer. When the tip was not used, the etchant was agitated (active) over the substrate or left undisturbed (passive). The etchings were done for 15 or 30s. After rinsing the acid, the adhesive XP Bond (Dentsply Caulk, Milford, DE, USA) was applied and light-cured. Resin composite cylinders were built up on dentin and enamel substrates. A shear load was applied to the samples at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min until failure. Data were statistically analyzed by three-way ANOVA and Tukey test (alpha = 0.05). There was no difference between the etching techniques in bonding to enamel. Application with the tip or active without the tip promoted higher bond strength to dentin than passive application. Extending the etching time reduced the bond strength to dentin and did not alter the values for enamel. The passive application without tips produced the lowest bond strength when the etchant was applied for 15s. All techniques demonstrated similar values for application during 30s. The acid etching time and technique significantly influence the bond strength of etch-and-rinse adhesive to dentin.