Microtensile Bond Strength of Etch-and-Rinse Adhesives in Different Hydroabrasion Conditionings

The aim of the present study was to in vitro evaluate the effect of dentin conditioning with hydroabrasion on the microtensile bond strengths of three adhesive systems, compared to the standard etch-and-rinse technique. Sixty extracted human third molars were collected, and their midcoronal occlusal dentin was used for the microtensile bond strength test. Teeth were randomly assigned to three groups according to the adhesive system used: ExciTE F DSC, ENA Bond, and Scotchbond Universal. Specimens from each group were further divided into four subgroups: control specimens were treated with standard adhesive procedures; hydroabraded (HA) specimens were subjected to preventive hydroabrasion with three different intensity levels. After bonding procedures, composite crowns were incrementally built up. After thermocycling, specimens were subsequently sectioned into 1 × 1 mm sticks, and microtensile bond strengths were measured. Data were statistically analyzed. Failure mode analysis was performed. There were no significant differences in terms of bond strength between standard adhesion protocols and adhesion with HA preconditionings. On the other hand, the type of adhesive used had a significant effect on the tensile bond strength. Subgroups treated with hydroabrasion at higher intensity showed a slightly increased frequency of cohesive fractures. In conclusion, hydroabrasion can be used for dentin cavity preparation or finishing, since it does not seem to affect the bonding effectiveness.

Influence of dentin conditioning with polyacrylic acid on the shear bond strength of a nano-filled resin-modified glass ionomer cement.

Purpose: This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the influence of dentin conditioning with polyacrylic acid on the shear bond strength of the nano-filled resin-modified glass ionomer cement Ketac N100 (3MESPE). Material and methods: Eighteen bovine incisors were randomly divided into two groups (n=18): group 1, without dentin surface treatment, and group 2, with dentin surface treated with 10% polyacrylic acid for 15 seconds. In both groups the primer was applied before the application of the nano-filled resin-modified glass ionomer cement (Ketac N100) and light-cured for 20 seconds. After 24 hours, the specimens were submitted to thermocycling for 350 cycles, and the teeth were immersed in distilled water at room temperature. After 24 hours, specimens were tested for shear bond strength at 1mm/minute crosshead speed. The collected data were analyzed using the non-parametric test of Mann Whitney (p<0.05). Results: There was a significant difference in shear bond strength values between the treatment and control groups, the group with dentin conditioning with 10% polyacrylic acid showed higher shear strength values than the group without dentin treatment. Conclusion: Application of 10% polyacrylic acid on dentin increases the shear bond strength values of nano-filled resin-modified glass ionomer cement.

Dentin Priming with Amphipathic Antimicrobial Peptides

The evolution of bonded restorations has undergone great progress over several decades. Nonetheless, life spans of bonded restorations are limited mainly because of the eventual incidence of recurrent caries. Over time, water and waterborne agents (acids, enzymes) degrade the components of the dentin/restoration interface, allowing bacterial colonization and dentin reinfection at the margins of the restoration. We developed a 2-tier protective technology consisting of priming/coating dentin with amphipathic and antimicrobial peptides (AAMPs) to obtain hydrophobic/water-repellent and antibiofilm dentin-resisting recurrent caries around bonded restorations. We tested a series of AAMPs to assess their structure-function relationships as well as the effects of different dentin-conditioning methods on the structural features of AAMP-coated dentin. We found relation between the secondary structure of AAMPs (high portion of β-sheet), the antimicrobial potency of AAMPs, and the AAMPs’ ability to form hydrophobic coatings on dentin. We also determined that AAMPs had preferential adsorption on the mineral phase of dentin, which suggested that peptides arrange their cationic and hydrophilic motifs in direct contact with the negatively charged minerals in the hydrophilic dentin. These results led us to explore different dentin-conditioning methods that would increase the mineral/collagen ratio and their effect on AAMP immobilization. We innovatively imaged the spatial distribution of the AAMPs in relation to the dentinal tubules and collagen network using a minimally invasive multimodal imaging technique: multiphoton–second harmonic generation. Using multiphoton–second harmonic generation imaging, we determined that partial deproteinization of dentin increased the amount of immobilized AAMPs as compared with the total etched dentin at the dentin surface and extended deeply around dentinal tubules. Last, we analyzed the release rate of AAMPs from dentin coatings in artificial saliva to predict their stability in the clinical setting. In conclusion, priming dentin with AAMPs is a versatile new approach with potential to fortify the otherwise vulnerable adhesive-based interfaces.