Effects of immersion in 4-methacryloyloxyethyl trimellitate anhydride/methyl methacrylate-tri-n-butyl borane resin-activated liquid on microtensile bond strength of root canal dentin.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: 4-methacryloyloxyethyl trimellitate anhydride/methyl methacrylate-tri-n-butyl borane (4-META/MMA-TBB) resin is used for indirect restorations. We aimed to evaluate effects of immersion in 4-META/MMA-TBB-activated liquid on the bond strength of root canal dentin.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

We used freshly extracted single-rooted human teeth. After decoronation, each root was vertically sectioned into halves; their dentin walls were polished and flattened. The control group underwent dentin treatment with Green Activator. The immersion group was treated with Green Activator and Teeth Primer and immersed in 4-META/MMA-TBB-activated liquid. After bonding the resin blocks with Super-Bond, microtensile bond strength (μTBS) tests were performed (n = 6), and fracture surfaces were analyzed. Before surface treatment, dentin was immersed in a sodium fluorescein solution for 3 h, and resin blocks were bonded with Super-Bond with rhodamine B as in the bond strength test. The bonded cross section was observed using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM).

RESULTS

μTBS was significantly higher in the immersion group than in the control group (61.5 [51.3-66.7] vs. 33.0 [20.4-57.8] MPa; P < 0.05). Fracture mode analysis showed that, compared with the control group, the immersion group had a significantly lower rate of adhesive failure at the dentin interface and a significantly higher rate of cohesive failure in Super-Bond (P < 0.01). CLSM showed a water droplet-like accumulation of fluorescein dye above the hybrid layer in the control group, not in the immersion group.

CONCLUSION

Immersion in a 4-META/MMA-TBB-activated liquid inhibited water exudation from the root canal dentin and improved the bond strength.