Ethanol-wet bonding may improve root dentine bonding performance of hydrophobic adhesive

ObjectivesThe current study aimed to assess ethanol-wet dentine surfaces by atomic force microscopy (AFM), and to evaluate the efficacy of ethanol-wet bonding on root dentine by determining the shear bond strength (SBS) and interfacial nanoleakage expression.MethodsFlat dentine slices from human premolar roots were randomly grouped into five. All specimens were acid-etched, rinsed, and left moist. They were then treated with 100% ethanol for 0 s (control group), 20 s (Group 1), 60 s (Group 2), three 60 s periods (Group 3), or stepwise ethanol application (Group 4). After treatment, each group was bonded either with Adper™ Scotchbond™ Multi-Purpose (Scotchbond) or experimental hydrophobic adhesive. Nano-scale adhesion forces (Fad) were probed by AFM and analysed using one-way ANOVA. The SBS results were analysed using two-way ANOVA. Tukey's test was employed for multiple comparisons.ResultsEthanol-wet protocols significantly decreased the value of Fad (p < 0.001). When bonded with Scotchbond, ethanol treatment did not affect the bond strength (p > 0.05), but decreased the interfacial nanoleakage. The SBS values of the groups bonded with hydrophobic adhesive varied with different ethanol-wet protocols (p < 0.05). Decreased nanoleakage was manifested in all experimental groups, except Group 1. Compared with the classical water-wet bonding with Scotchbond in the control group, Group 4 bonded with hydrophobic adhesive exhibited a significantly higher bond strength (p < 0.05).ConclusionsEthanol-wet bonding using a stepwise ethanol application protocol may have potential benefits in the root dentine bonding of hydrophobic adhesive.