OBJECTIVETo evaluate the nanoleakage appearance in 6 dentin adhesives.

METHODSSuperficial occlusal dentin of 12 human molars without caries extracted freshly was exposed with 600-grit SiC papers under running water. Six adhesives were applied to dentin surfaces according to the manufacturers' instructions. The bonded teeth were sectioned occluso-gingivally into 0.9-mm-thick serial slabs that were stored in ammoniacal silver nitrate solution in the dark for 24 h and prepared for transmission electron microscope. The extent of nanoleakage among 6 dentin adhesives was measured and compared using one-way ANOVA.

RESULTSThe nanoleakage was observed obviously at the dentin-resin interfaces of all 6 adhesives. The average dentin nanoleakage values of Group A [BangDuo, (16.09 +/- 2.08)%], Group B [Single Bond, (13.39 +/- 1.81)%], and Group C [Prime&Bond NT, (11.27 +/- 1.94)%] were all significantly different (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the dentin nanoleakage between Group D [B(1), (12.13 +/- 2.11)%] and Group E [Clearfil SE Bond, (12.35 +/- 2.60)%], but both of them were lower than Group F [Adper Prompt, (14.93 +/- 2.67)%].

CONCLUSIONSThe nanoleakage phenomena at the dentin-resin interface were all observed diversely in the contemporary dental adhesives.