OBJECTIVEThis study aims to evaluate the bond strength of a self-adhesive resin cement to dentin by ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and NaClO.

METHODSTwenty-seven freshly extracted non-carious human premolars were prepared to expose the buccal dentin and randomly divided into three groups: control group (A group), EDTA group (B group) and NaClO group (C group). All teeth were bonded to dentin using a self-adhesive resin cement after the teeth in the A group were processed with distilled water. The B and C group were processed with 3%EDTA and 1%NaClO, respectively. After 24 hours at 37 °C water, the shear bond strengths of the twenty-four specimens were measured. All statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 17.0 software package. Each fractured specimen was examined under dental microscope. Three new specimens were cut, and the morphologies of the cement-dentin interface were observed under scanning electron microscope (SEM).

RESULTSThe shear bond strength in the A group, B group and C group was (8.55±0.63), (8.47±0.56) and (12.97± 0.59) MPa, respectively. The difference between A group and B group was no statistically significant (P>0.05), whereas the difference between C group and B group (or A group) was statistically significant (P<0.05). SEM observation of the cement-dentin interface in the C group showed good adaptation, but resin tags were not observed. The other two groups showed poor bonding interface. Most of the fractured adhesive dentin surfaces exhibited cohesive failure in the A group and B group. All the fractured adhesive dentin surfaces exhibited cohesive failure in the C group.

CONCLUSION1% NaClO can increase the bond strength of self-adhesive resin cement to dentin, but 3%EDTA has no effect.