A prospective 8-year evaluation of a mild two-step self-etching adhesive and a heavily filled two-step etch-and-rinse system in non-carious cervical lesions

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term clinical retention to dentin of a two-step self-etching adhesive system Clearfil SE Bond and a two-step etch-and-rinse system PQ1.MethodsA total of 119 Class V restorations were placed in non-carious cervical lesions without intentional involvement of the enamel incisal of the lesions. The restorations were evaluated yearly during an 8-year follow-up. Clinical dentin bonding efficiency was determined by the percentage of lost restorations at each of the recalls.ResultsAt 8 years, 112 restorations could be evaluated. Both adhesives fulfilled the ADA 18-month full acceptance criteria for retention with a retention rate of 90.6% for PQ1 and 98.2% for Clearfil SE Bond. The loss rates increased then considerably after 2 and 3 years, respectively. The cumulative loss rates at 8 years were 25.5% for Clearfil SE and 39.3% for PQ1 (p = 0.12). No significant differences were observed between lesions with sclerotic and non-sclerotic dentin. The size of the lesions did not influence the bonding effectiveness. A lower loss rate was found for the restorations placed in lesions slightly roughened before etching.ConclusionBoth adhesive systems showed acceptable short-term clinical retention to dentin, which decreased after long-time in vivo aging, especially for the simplified etch-and-rinse system.