Effect of dentin conditioners on the microtensile bond strength of a conventional and a self-etching primer adhesive system

Significance: The bond performance of the adhesives tested was dependent on the dentin conditioner. Pre-treatment with a mild etchant such as 0.5 M EDTA improved the bond strength of Clearfil SE Bond. Single Bond performed better when a self-etching primer was used as the dentin conditioner, probably by preventing the formation of a defective zone at the base of the hybrid layer. Overall results indicate that higher bond strengths can be achieved by conditioning dentin with milder etchants, suggesting that deeper demineralization may prevent proper resin infiltration, hence compromising the bond.