Three-Year Effects of Deproteinization on the In Vitro Durability of Resin/Dentin-Eroded Interfaces.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of sodium hypochlorite on the immediate and three-year bonding properties of a resin-eroded dentin interface produced by one of two adhesive strategies. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Forty-eight molars were randomly assigned to six experimental groups, according to the combination of the adhesive strategy (etch-and-rinse and self-etch) and the dentin surface (control groups without erosion, eroded dentin surface [ED], and eroded dentin surface + NaOCl 5.2% [ED + NaOCl]). After completing restoration, specimens were stored in water (37 degrees C) for 24 hours and then sectioned into resin-dentin beams (0.8 mm(2)) to be tested under tension (0.5 mm/min) immediately thereafter or after three years of water storage. To assess nanoleakage (NL), specimens were immersed in silver nitrate solution and examined by scanning electron microscopy at both time points. The dentin-etching pattern was examined under a scanning electron microscope. Data were subjected to appropriate statistical analysis (alpha=0.05) Results: In both strategies, a more pronounced and significant reduction of the microtensile bond strength (muTBS) values was observed for the ED groups ( p=0.0001) after three years. However, in the ED + NaOCl group, muTBS values were maintained after three years of water storage. Furthermore, application of NaOCl to eroded dentin significantly reduced the immediate NL values and also preserved these values after three years of water storage for both adhesive strategies ( p>0.05). When considering the ED group, a superficial removal of the smear layer and enlarged lumen tubules in comparison to control were present. However, for ED + NaOCl, there was a total removal of the smear layer and significant numbers of collagen fibrils were exposed. CONCLUSION: The use of NaOCl may maintain the long-term stability of a resin-eroded dentin interface formed by etch-and-rinse and self-etch adhesives.