Bond Strengths of an Antibacterial Monomer-containing Adhesive System Applied with and Without Acid Etching for Lingual Retainer Bonding

The aim of this study was to test the null hypothesis that there is no significant difference in bond strength and failure site location of composite bonded to etched and unetched enamel with an antibacterial monomer-containing adhesive and a conventional lingual retainer adhesive system. The crowns of 60 extracted lower human incisors were mounted in acrylic resin leaving the lingual surface of the crowns parallel to the base of the moulds. The teeth were randomly divided into three equal groups: two experimental and a control. Conventional lingual retainer composite (Transbond LR) and antibacterial monomer-containing adhesive (Clearfil Protect Bond), with or without prior etching, were applied to the lingual surface of the teeth by packing the material into cylindrical plastic matrices (Ultradent) with an internal diameter of 2.34 mm and a height of 3 mm to simulate lingual retainer bonding. The shear bond data were analysed using analysis of variance and Tukey's tests. Fracture modes were analysed by chi-square test. Statistical analysis showed that the bond strengths of the control (Transbond LR, mean: 24.77 +/- 9.25 MPa) and Clearfil Protect Bond with etching, (mean: 20.24 +/- 8.5 MPa) were significantly higher than Clearfil Protect Bond without etching, (mean: 12.56 +/- 6.93 MPa). In general, a greater percentage of the fractures were adhesive, at the tooth-composite interface (60-65 per cent). No statistically significant difference was found among the groups. The hypothesis is thus rejected. Within the limits of this in vitro model, antibacterial monomer-containing self-etch adhesive with acid etching did not significantly affect shear bond strength when compared with the control. However, the same adhesive used without acid etching resulted in a significant decrease in bond strength.