The influence of salivary contamination on the shear bond strength of two newer generation dentin bonding agents - An in vitro study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether salivary contamination during various stages of the bonding procedures of Xeno III and Clearfil SE Bond influences shear bond strength. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The occlusal surfaces of thirty six maxillary premolar teeth were ground and divided into two groups containing eighteen specimens each, which was subdivided into three sub groups: Group I - Xeno III, Group II - Clearfil SE Bond, Subgroup A - Uncontaminated (control), Subgroup B - Contaminated with saliva before application and light curing, Subgroup C - Contaminated with saliva after light curing. Composite resin Filtek Z350 was packed using Teflon mold cured and subjected to shear bond strength analysis using universal Instron machine. RESULTS: Statistical analysis was made using One-way ANOVA and Tukeys HSD test. Clearfil SE Bond showed very high statistically significant reduction in the bond strength, when salivary contamination took place after light curing; whereas, Xeno III showed very high statistically significant reduction when salivary contamination took place before application and light curing. CONCLUSION: Clearfil SE Bond showed more tolerance to salivary contamination of dentin and higher shear bond strength value, when compared to Xeno III.