Bonding Strategies to Pulp Chamber Dentin Treated with Different Endodontic Irrigants: Microshear Bond Strength Testing and SEM Analysis

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of 6 irrigant regimens on the microshear bond strength of different adhesives to pulp chamber dentin and to determine their interfacial morphology by SEM. Materials and Methods: Forty-three human molars were split into halves and ground to provide flat pulp chamber dentin. Eighty-five halves were used. The specimens were assigned to 6 groups according to the irrigant regimen used. Group I (n=10) was irrigated with distilled water (control). The remaining 5 groups (n=15 each) were irrigated with 5.25% NaOCl followed by either 5.25% NaOCl, 17% EDTA, benzalkonium chloride (Tubilcid Plus) or MTAD (Biopure), either rinsed or not. Irrigated specimens were bonded using Clearfil S3 Bond or Adper Single Bond 2, which was employed with or without etching. Resin composite cylinders were bonded using tygon tubes for microshear bond strength testing. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's post-hoc test. Representative specimens of each group were prepared from 17 further mmolars for interfacial SEM examination. Results: The different irrigant regimens used did not significantly alter the microshear bond strength values using either of the bonding systems, except NaOCl, which significantly reduced the microshear bond strength values with Adper Single Bond 2. Bonding irrigated specimens directly using the Adper Single Bond 2 without prior etching provided significantly reduced values. Conclusion: The irrigant regimens examined could be used safely prior to bonding except for the NaOCl, which should be negated if it is to be followed by Adper Single Bond 2, and the etching step cannot be omitted if an etch-and-rinse adhesive system is the adhesive of choice. Keywords: pulp chamber dentin, irrigants, microshear bond strength, etch-and-rinse adhesive, self-etching adhesive, SEM