Silver diamine fluoride and cleaning methods effects on dentin bond strength

To assess the effect of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) application on bond strength of current adhesive systems to caries-affected dentin and cleaning procedures to overcome SDF's influence on adhesion to dentin.

64 human third molars were randomly divided in eight groups for microshear bond strength testing (MBS). Samples of sound and artificial caries-affected human dentin were treated or not with 38% SDF and restored with an etch-and-rinse or a self-etch bonding system. For the cleaning part, water, aluminum oxide, and pumice paste were used after SDF application to determine whether SDF affected the bond strength to dentin. Fracture mode was evaluated under scanning electron microscope. Data were statistically analyzed by ANOVA.

SDF application resulted in the lowest MBS for the self-etching adhesive system on caries-affected dentin (P< 0.05). Cleaning with pumice slurry maintained the MBS in SDF groups when compared to the control groups (not treated with SDF). Fracture evaluation showed more adhesive failures on adhesive systems groups. EDX analysis showed no silver particles when pumice paste was used for cleaning.

Self-etch adhesive systems do not seem appropriate for bonding SDF-treated dentin restorations. Cleaning SDF-treated dentin with pumice paste reduced the negative effect of SDF on resin-dentin bond strength. Etch-and-rinse adhesive systems seemed not be affected by 38% SDF.