Microtensile bond strength to sealer-contaminated dentin after using different cleaning protocols

Area of Science:

• Dental materials science
• Biomaterials engineering
• Adhesive dentistry

Background:

• Sealer residues on dentin can compromise the bond strength of restorative materials.
• Effective cleaning protocols are crucial for successful dental restorations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the bond strength to sealer-contaminated dentin after employing different cleaning protocols.
• To compare the efficacy of acetone, ultrasound, and a combination of both in removing sealer residues.

Main Methods:

• Bovine incisor dentin segments were contaminated with epoxy resin-based sealer.
• Cleaning protocols included acetone application, ultrasonic tip cleaning, and a combination of both.
• Bond strength was assessed using a microtensile test after bonding with a self-etch adhesive.
• Swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) was used to visualize sealer residues.

Main Results:

• Ultrasound alone or combined with acetone preserved bond strength compared to the control group.
• The ultrasound group showed the highest bond strength (39.38 MPa).
• The acetone group exhibited the lowest bond strength (32.88 MPa), with sealer residues detected in 21.4% of sections.

Conclusions:

• Ultrasonic cleaning, with or without acetone, effectively removes epoxy resin-based sealer residues from dentin.
• These methods preserve bond strength, ensuring better adhesion of restorative materials.