Surface tension of different dentin bonding resin systems

Surface tension together with the hybridization process is one of the factors required to attain hybrid layer formation in dentinal tissue when bonding resin systems are used. The objective of the present study was to determine the surface tension of primers and fluid resins of 4 fourth generation bonding systems (All Bond 2, Denthesive Bond, Scotchbond Multi-Purpose and Optibond) and of one resin cement with metal affinity (Panavia Ex), all of them commonly used by Brazilian dentists. All primer solutions presented a lower surface tension than dentin, suggesting that all bonding systems are capable of wetting the tissue and probably cause tissue hybridization. The resin cement demonstrated the highest value, about 2 times that of dentin, which leads us to suppose that it is inefficient in deeply wetting the dentinal structure, without implying inefficient bonding since its analysis is multi-factorial.