ground: Selecting a suitable adhesive to achieve optimal micromechanical retention in the shortest possible time is a challenge in composite restoration of primary teeth.
Purpose: This study compared the microshear bond strength (µSBS) of universal, self-etch (SE), and etch-and-rinse (E&R) adhesives to primary enamel.
Materials and Method: In this in vitro experimental study, the buccal- and lingual-surface enamel of 56 extracted primary molars was wet-polished, and randomly divided into 4 groups (n=14) of (A) Clearfil SE Bond SE adhesive, (B) Scotchbond Multipurpose E&R adhesive, (C) G-Premio Bond universal adhesive with SE mode, and (D) G-Premio Bond Universal adhesive with E&R mode. Composite build-up was then performed, and the specimens underwent thermocycling. The µSBS was measured in a universal testing machine, and the mode of failure was determined stereomicroscopically. One specimen from each group underwent scanning electron microscopic (SEM) assessment. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD test using SPSS (alpha= 0.05).
Results: The µSBS of Scotchbond Multipurpose was significantly higher than that of Clearfil SE Bond and G-Premio Bond (p Value <0.001). The µSBS of G-Premio Bond universal adhesive with E&R technique was significantly higher than that with SE technique (p= 0.001). However, the difference between Clearfil SE Bond and G-Premio Bond in E&R (p= 0.379) and SE (p= 0.064) modes was not significant.
Conclusion: It appears that Scotchbond Multipurpose three-step E&R adhesive still has the best performance in bonding to primary enamel. G-Premio universal adhesive can yield a µSBS comparable to that of Clearfil SE Bond two-step SE adhesive to enamel.