Influence of dentin depth and hemostatic contamination on microtensile bond strength of a universal adhesive: Effect of phosphoric acid re-etching as a rescue protocol
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Background: This study evaluated the influence of dentin depth and surface treatment on the microtensile bond strength (µTBS) of a universal adhesive to dentin contaminated with an aluminum chloride hemostatic agent, and assessed the effectiveness of phosphoric acid re-etching as a contamination management strategy. Materials and Methods: Sixty extracted human third molars were assigned to six groups (n=10) based on dentin depth (superficial or deep) and surface treatment (control, contamination, and contamination followed by phosphoric acid re-etching). A universal adhesive was applied in self-etch mode for control and contamination groups, and in etch-and-rinse mode following the rescue protocol. Composite build-up was performed and specimens were thermocycled (10,000 cycles). µTBS was measured using a universal testing machine. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test (p<0.05). Failure modes were evaluated using stereomicroscopy and analyzed with Pearson's chi-square test. Results: Superficial dentin demonstrated significantly higher µTBS than deep dentin (p<0.001). Aluminum chloride contamination significantly reduced bond strength in both substrates (p<0.05). Phosphoric acid re-etching significantly improved bond strength in superficial dentin (p<0.05) but did not restore control values. In deep dentin, the rescue protocol did not significantly improve bond strength (p>0.05). A significant interaction between dentin depth and surface treatment was observed (p=0.001). Conclusions: Dentin depth significantly influences the effectiveness of contamination management strategies. Phosphoric acid re-etching partially restores bond strength in superficial dentin but is ineffective in deep dentin, indicating that contamination management is substrate-dependent.
DOI: 10.4317/jced.64286
Institution: KIIT University
Language: English
Subfield: General Dentistry
Field: Dentistry
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7211976031