Bond strength of a sealant to primary and permanent enamel: phosphoric acid versus self-etching adhesive.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to compare the effect of phosphoric acid and a self-etching adhesive on the short and long-term bond strength of a light-curing sealant to unground primary and permanent enamel.


METHODS
A light-curing resin sealant (Delton Light Curing Pit & Fissure Sealant-CLEAR) was bonded to the flattest, peripheral surface of 40 primary and 40 permanent molars following conditioning of the cleaned enamel with 38% phosphoric acid or with the self-etching adhesive Prompt L-Pop (N=10/group). After either 1 week or 1 year in water, shear bond strengths were measured. Failure mode was determined in a stereo microscope.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference in bond strengths between the phosphoric acid-etch and the self-etching adhesive groups, nor between the 1-week and 1-year results (P>.05). However, the bond strengths to primary enamel were lower than those to permanent enamel (P=.0021). The number of pure adhesive failures in each of the 8 groups varied between 0 and 3 (0-30%), and the remaining teeth displayed mixed adhesive-cohesive failures.


CONCLUSIONS
The self-etching adhesive studied seems an attractive alternative to the acid-etch technique for sealant application in young children where simplifications in the clinical procedure are warranted.
Peutzfeldt
Anne
A
Department of Dental Materials, School of Dentistry, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. apz@odont.ku.dk
Nielsen
Lis Almer
LA
D000134:Acid Etching, Dental; D000268:Adhesiveness; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D017438:Bisphenol A-Glycidyl Methacrylate / Q000737:chemistry; D001840:Dental Bonding; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D010756:Phosphoric Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants / Q000737:chemistry*; D019279:Resin Cements / Q000737:chemistry; D033081:Shear Strength; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013997:Time Factors; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D010756:Phosphoric Acids; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants; C408584:Prompt L-Pop; D019279:Resin Cements; D014867:Water; D017438:Bisphenol A-Glycidyl Methacrylate