Influence of self-etch all-in-one adhesives on fissure sealant shear bond strength under contaminated enamel conditions.

AIM: To determine the influence of two all-in-one self-etching adhesive systems on shear bond strength of a fissure sealant applied under different enamel surface conditions.

METHODS: A total of 180 bovine enamel specimens were randomly distributed to nine experimental groups, defined by the combination of the sealant application technique (using phosphoric acid, or a self-etching water-based adhesive or a self-etching ethanol and water-based adhesive) and enamel surface conditions (dry enamel, saliva or water contaminated enamel). The specimens were submitted to thermocycling prior to the shear bond strength test.

RESULTS: High shear bond strength mean values were obtained with the classic technique for dry enamel (31.47 MPa), statistically similar values were obtained when the sealant was combined with a self-etching water-based adhesive, in dry enamel (32.36 MPa), and when the sealant was combined with a self-etching water-based adhesive in water contaminated enamel (32.62 MPa). Under enamel salivary contamination, the best results were achieved using a water-based adhesive (24.78 MPa).

CONCLUSIONS: In saliva contaminated enamel, the combination of a sealant with a water-based self-etching adhesive can maintain high and satisfactory values of bond strength.