[Effect of a desensitizing polishing paste on bonding strength of two self-etching adhesives to dentin].

Objective: To evaluate the effect of an 8% arginine-CaCO3 containing desensitizing polishing paste on bonding strength of two self-etching adhesives to dentin.

Methods: Thirty-six intact human premolars extracted for orthodontic reasons were collected within 1 month after extraction and randomly assigned into three groups using a table of random numbers (n = 12): specimens without any treatment served as control. In the polishing powder group specimens were polished with a slurry of pumice, and in the desensitizing polishing paste group dentin surfaces of the sample teeth were treated with 8% arginine-CaCO3 containing desensitizing polishing paste. Then each group was divided into two sub-groups using a table of random numbers in order to evaluate the bonding strength of two self-etching adhesive agents (G-Bond, GC; Fl-Bond II, Shofu). Microtensile bond strength test was conducted immediately and after 5000 thermocycling (n = 15). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to evaluate the occluding effect of the desensitizing polishing paste.

Results: In the pre-thermocycling stage, there were no significant differences in Fl-Bond II bonding strength among the three groups [control: (30.34 ± 5.42) MPa, polishing powder group: (29.72 ± 5.16) MPa, desensitizing polishing paste group: (31.53 ± 4.86) MPa] (P > 0.05). However there were significant differences among the three groups in G-Bond bonding strength [control: (38.19 ± 4.42) MPa, polishing powder group: (36.47 ± 4.72) MPa, desensitizing polishing paste group: (46.88 ± 7.83) MPa] (P < 0.05). After thermocycling process, there were no significant differences in bonding strength among the three groups in both G-Bond groups and Fl-Bond II groups. SEM observation showed that the desensitizing polishing paste could occlude open dentinal tubules effectively, and the application of self-etching adhesives could re-open the dentinal tubular orifices. An even layer can be seen on the dentin surface treated with self-etching adhesive containing functional monomers.

Conclusions: The 8% arginine-CaCO3 containing desensitizing polishing paste could effectively occlude dentinal tubules, thus may have potential benefits in preventing post-operative sensitivity. Additionally, it had no adverse effect on bonding strength of self-etching adhesives to dentin.