Tensile Bond Strength and Marginal Integrity of a Self-adhering and a Self-etch Adhesive Flowable Composite after...

This study aims to compare the self-etch adhesive (SEA) and self-adhesive flowable composite (SAF) concerning tensile bond strength (TBS) and marginal integrity by microleakage (µ LK) test in deciduous molars after artificial thermomechanical aging.

120 extracted primary molars were collected. Sixty teeth were mounted for testing TBS. Teeth were restored using SAF (n = 30) and SEA-conventional flowable (CF) composite (n = 30) and subjected to artificial thermal aging. Half the teeth (n = 15) from each material were subjected to mechanical loading (SEA-TBS-L and SAF-TBS-L). The specimens with no-load (NL) served as control (SEA-TBS-NL and SAF-TBS-NL). Class V cavity prepared and restored with SAF (n = 30) and SEA-CF (n = 30) to test µ LK after thermal aging. The subgroups were as same as the TBS based on with or without mechanical loading (SEA-µ LK-L, SEA-µ LK-NL, SAF-µ LK-L, SAF-µ LK-L; n = 15 each). µ LK was determined by employing the dye immersion technique.

Concerning TBS, there is a significant difference between SEA and SAF with load or no load. Concerning µ LK, there is a significant difference between the materials under loading and no difference was found when not mechanically loaded. Also, concerning both TBS and µ LK, a significant difference was observed between the load and no-load subgroups within each material.

SAF exhibited higher TBS than the SEA. Mechanical loading not only adversely affected the TBS but also increased the µLK of the compared materials.

Restoring the primary teeth with SAF not only shortens the laborious operatory time but also yields good clinical serviceability with the good bond strength and minimal µ LK, thus preventing premature loss of teeth and consequential malocclusion.

Kamatchi M, Ajay R, Gawthaman M, et al. Tensile Bond Strength and Marginal Integrity of a Self-adhering and a Self-etch Adhesive Flowable Composite after Artificial Thermomechanical Aging. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2022;15(2):204-209.