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Effect of smear layer deproteinizing on resin-dentine interface with self-etch adhesive
Ornnicha Thanatvarakorn1, Masatoshi Nakajima2, Taweesak Prasansuttiporn3
1Cariology and Operative Dentistry, Department of Oral Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan; Global Center Excellence (GCOE) Program, International Research Center for Molecular Science in Tooth and Bone Diseases, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan.
Objectives:
This study aimed to investigate deproteinizing effect of sodium-hypochlorite (NaOCl) and mild acidic hypochlorous-acid (HOCl) pretreatment on smear layer-covered dentine and to evaluate their effects on morphological characteristics of resin-dentine interface with self-etch adhesive.
Methods:
Human coronal-dentine discs with standardized smear layer were pretreated with 6% NaOCl or 50ppm HOCl for 15s or 30s. Their deproteinizing effects at the treated smear layer-covered dentine surfaces were determined by the measurement of amide:phosphate ratio using ATR-FTIR analysis. In addition, using TEM, micromorphological alterations of hybridized complex and nanoleakage expression were evaluated at the interface of a self-etch adhesive (Clearfil SE Bond) to the pretreated dentine surface with or without subsequent application of a reducing agent (p-Toluenesulfinic acid salt; Accel(®)).
Results:
Both pretreatments of NaOCl and HOCl significantly reduced the amide:phosphate ratio as compared with the no-pretreated group (p<0.05), coincident with the elimination of the hybridized smear layer on their bonded interfaces. Nanoleakage within the hybrid layer was found in the no-pretreated and NaOCl-pretreated groups, whereas the subsequent reducing agent application changed the reticular nanoleakage to spotted type. HOCl-pretreated groups showed less nanoleakage expression in a spotted pattern, regardless of reducing agent application.
Conclusions:
NaOCl and HOCl solutions could remove the organic component on the smear layer-covered dentine, which could eliminate the hybridized smear layer created by self-etch adhesive, leading to the reduction of nanoleakage expression within hybrid layer.
Clinical Significance:
Smear layer deproteinizing could modify dentine surface, giving an appropriate substrate for bonding to self-etch adhesive system.

