Short- and Long-term Bonding Efficacy of a Self-etching, One-step Adhesive

It was the purpose of the study to investigate the short- and long-term bonding to enamel and dentin of a self-etching, one-step adhesive with and without separate curing of the adhesive. The bond strengths were measured both with a light- and with a self-curing resin composite. Multistep bonding systems served as controls. The bonding systems selected were Prompt L-Pop and, as controls, Solobond M, Solobond Plus, and Optibond FL. The resin composites Rebilda LC and Rebilda were bonded to plane enamel or dentin surfaces following application of the bonding systems used in accordance with the recommendations of the respective manufacturers. With Prompt L-Pop, a separate cure of the adhesive was also investigated. After being stored in water at 37°C for 1 day or 1 year, the bonded specimens were broken in shear. The strength of the bond to enamel of Prompt L-Pop increased with time in water, while the bond strengths of the other systems did not change statistically significantly. There was no difference in bond strengths to dentin measured after 1 day and 1 year in water. The self-curing resin composite did not bond with Prompt L-Pop. Separate curing of Prompt L-Pop had no influence on bond strengths. On the basis of this in vitro study, the self-etching, one-step bonding system Prompt L-Pop, although less efficient than the three-step system Optibond FL, would seem to be a viable option compared to multistep systems, except when there is a need to mediate a bond to self-curing resin composite.