Dentin wetting by three adhesive systems: Influence of etching time, temperature and relative humidity

Acid-etched dentin exposed to a brief air-drying appears as the key parameter to control the wetting properties of total-etch adhesive-dentin systems. The experimental results seem to be well described by the Cassie-Baxter approach, and suggest that dentinal tubules through an adhesive repellent contribution should account for the observed wettability decreases.