Purpose: To investigate the effects of root canal irrigants, dentin surface treatment, and timing of the restoration on the microtensile bond strength (μTBS) of a universal adhesive to deep coronal dentin.
Materials and methods: Ninety (90) intact molars were grouped according to the irrigation protocol: group 0 (saline, control group); group 1: 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) followed by 5.25% NaOCl; group 2: 18% etidronic acid (HEDP) + 5.25% NaOCl in a single mixture. Groups 1 and 2 were divided into 2 subgroups (n = = 10) according to the time of restoration: immediate (subgroup A) and after 7 days (subgroup B). Four other groups (n = 10) were created according to the dentin surface pretreatment and received an immediate restoration: group 3: 5.25% NaOCl - 17% EDTA and AH Plus Cleaner; group 4: 5.25% NaOCl - 17% EDTA and 100% ethanol; group 5: 5.25% NaOCl + 18% HEDP and AH Plus Cleaner; group 6: 5.25% NaOCl + 18% HEDP and 100% ethanol. μTBS testing was carried out for each subgroup and interfaces were analyzed through SEM. The μTBS was analyzed with Welch statistics and the post-hoc Games-Howell test for multiple comparisons (p < 0.05).
Results: Statistically significant differences were observed between test groups and control groups (p < 0.001), except for group 3 (p = 0.349). No significant differences were recorded between groups 1A (27.5 ± 8.7 MPa), 2A (32.6 ± 14.5 MPa) and 3 (27.3 ± 14.3 MPa). Group 6 (48.6 ± 11.6 MPa) exhibited the highest μTBS among all tested groups. For groups 1 and 2, significantly higher values were recorded for subgroups 1B (39.3 ± 7.6 MPa) and 2B (43.8 ± 8.3 MPa) compared to subgroups 1A (27.5 ± 8.7 MPa) and 2A (32.6 ± 14.5 MPa).
Conclusion: When using NaOCl as root canal irrigant, it is advisable to delay the placement of a post-endodontic-treatment restoration.
Keywords: delayed restoration; endodontics; etidronic acid; microtensile; root canal irrigation; universal adhesives.