Shear bond strength of one 4th and two 7th generation bonding agents when used by operators with different bonding experience.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that simpler-to-use dentin adhesives (7th-generation adhesives) perform better when used by inexperienced operators than do the more complex 4th-generation adhesives.


METHODS
Six operators with no previous experience regarding dental adhesives, three residents in pediatric dentistry, and three experienced dentists used one 4th-generation dentin adhesive (MA) and two 7th-generation adhesives (MB and MC). With each adhesive, each operator performed 6 bondings to enamel and 6 bondings to dentin. After 24 h of storage in water at 37 degrees C, the shear bond strength was determined.


RESULTS
The pooled results showed that the bond strength to dentin was higher (p < 0.05) than that to enamel (dentin mean value = 14.0 MPa, SD = 9.1 MPa; enamel mean value = 11.9 MPa, SD = 7.1 MPa), and that adhesive MA performed better (p < 0.05) than adhesives MB and MC (inexperienced operators = 16.2 +/- 10.9 MPa; residents in pedodontics = 12.0 +/- 6.8 MPa, and experienced operators = 10.7 +/- 4.8 MPa). Of the two 7th-generation adhesives, one performed better on enamel than on dentin, while the other 7th-generation adhesive performed better on dentin than on enamel. Regarding operators, there were large individual variations. The inexperienced bonders performed as well as the residents (p > 0.05), while the experienced operators performed best (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
In general, the tested 4th-generation adhesive performed better than the 7th-generation adhesives. Even inexperienced operators performed better with the more difficult-to-use 4th-generation adhesives than with the 7th-generation adhesives. Dentin adhesion was stronger than enamel adhesion.
Söderholm
Karl-Johan M
KJ
Department of Dental Biomaterials, College of Dentistry, University of Florida, Gainsville, Florida, 32610-0446, USA. ksoderholm@dental.ufl.edu
Guelmann
Marcio
M
Bimstein
Enrique
E
D000134:Acid Etching, Dental / Q000379:methods; D002983:Clinical Competence; D001840:Dental Bonding; D003743:Dental Enamel; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis; D003804:Dentin; D017220:Dentin-Bonding Agents; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D008963:Molar; D019279:Resin Cements; D033081:Shear Strength
D017220:Dentin-Bonding Agents; C408584:Prompt L-Pop; D019279:Resin Cements; C084018:Scotchbond Multi-Purpose; C477386:iBond