Effect of surface treatments on the bond strength of self-etching adhesive agents to dentin

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of different surface treatments on the shear bond strength (SBS) of self-etching adhesive systems to dentin. Ninety freshly extracted noncarious human molars were sectioned mesiodistally and embedded in chemically cured resin with the buccal or lingual surfaces facing upward. Superficial dentin was exposed, and specimens were randomly assigned to 3 groups, according to the self-etching adhesive system utilized: Clearfil SE Bond (2-step), Scotchbond Universal (1-step), and Clearfil S³ Bond Plus (1-step). These groups were assigned to 5 subgroups (n = 12), according to the following treatments: G1, distilled water (control); G2, 35% phosphoric acid gel; G3, ultrasonic vibration; G4, sandblasting; G5, pumice slurry. For the 1-step self-etching adhesives, no significant differences in SBS values were observed between the different surface treatment groups and their control subgroup (P > 0.05). For the 2-step adhesive, mean values were significantly higher in the ultrasonic vibration and pumice-treated groups than in the control subgroup (P < 0.05). Overall, the use of vibration resulted in superior mean SBS values to dentin for all adhesives tested, although the values were not always significantly higher.