Bond Strength of Experimental Low-viscosity Resin Materials to Early Enamel Caries Lesions: Effect of Diluent/Solvent Addition

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of different concentrations of monomers and solvents/diluents on the microtensile bond strength (μTBS) bond strength of experimental low-viscosity resins (infiltrants) to enamel caries-like lesions (ECLL). Materials and Methods: Flat enamel blocks obtained from sound human third molars were submitted to ECLL formation and randomly distributed into 9 groups (n = 10): G1: TEG-DMA 100%; G2: TEG-DMA 80%, ethanol 20%; G3; TEG-DMA 80%, HEMA 20%; G4: TEG-DMA 75%, UDMA 25%; G5: TEG-DMA 60%, UDMA 20%, ethanol 20%; G6: TEG-DMA 60%, UDMA 20%, HEMA 20%; G7: TEG-DMA 75%, bis-EMA 25%; G8: TEG-DMA 60%, bis-EMA 20%, ethanol 20%; G9: TEG-DMA 60%, bis-EMA 20%, HEMA 20%. After etching with 37% phosphoric acid for 60 s, experimental infiltrants were actively applied and photocured for 60 s, then stored in 100% humidity (24 h, 37°C). Hourglass-shaped specimens were obtained and the μTBS test performed (MPa). The fracture patterns were assessed by SEM. Data were submitted to two way-ANOVA and Tukey's tests (α = 0.05). Results: The highest μTBS value was observed for G4 (TEG-DMA/UDMA, 19.18 MPa) and the lowest for G5 (TEG-DMA/UDMA/ethanol, 9.00 MPa). A significant decrease in μTBS was observed for all groups containing ethanol (G2, G5, and G8). The addition of HEMA did not affect μTBS values. Most groups showed a high frequency of mixed failure between infiltrant and enamel. Conclusion: The addition of bis-EMA or UDMA to TEG-DMA-based infiltrants did not improve bond strength to carious enamel. The ethanol addition negatively affected the bonding strength of infiltrants to enamel caries-like lesions, regardless of the resin matrix composition of the infiltrant. Keywords: bond strength, enamel, infiltration