Effect of a desensitizing dentifrice on the bond strength of different adhesive systems

Aim: This in vitro study evaluated the effect of using a dental hypersensitivity treatment on the bond strength to dentin of etch-and-rinse and self-etching simplified adhesive systems.
Methods: 40 healthy molars were used. The crowns of teeth were removed at the dentinoenamel junction, and remaining roots were sectioned in the mesiodistal direction along their long axis, separating the buccal and lingual/palatal halves. The segments obtained were ground, keeping the buccal or lingual/palatal face turned downwards in order to flatten the surface and produce a standardized smear layer. Prepared specimens were randomly distributed into 4 groups (n=10), according to the combination of surface treatment with the desensitizing dentifrice Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief (Colgate Palmolive®) (test group - with dentifrice and control group - without dentifrice) and type of simplified bonding agent (etch-and-rinse and self-etching agents). Resin composite blocks were fabricated on the dentin surfaces, after application of bonding agents, and specimens were sectioned into rectangular stick-shaped specimens with cross-sectional area of approximately 0.8mm². For microtensile bond strength tests, 4 sticks were randomly selected from the central region of specimens, and fixed to a universal test machine. Data were analyzed statistically by the Mann-Whitney U test (a=0.05).
Results: The bond strength obtained in the group without desensitizer (control) + etch-and-rinse agent was significantly higher compared with the other groups. Under both experimental conditions, the self-etching agent showed weak bond strength to dentin.
Conclusions: Change in the dentin substrate by obliteration of tubules in the process of relieving dentinal sensitivity could reduce the bond strength of simplified etch-and-rinse and self-etching bonding agents.