An in-vitro investigation of the effect of a water additive and a new acidic primer on the tensile bond strength of composite resin to human enamel and dentine.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a water additive on the bond strength of a composite restorative material to enamel and dentine which have undergone a range of surface treatments regimes. Human enamel and dentine specimens were prepared and divided into 3 surface treatment groups. Composite resin restorative material was bonded to the surface prepared enamel and dentine specimens. The tensile bond strength of the composite resin was measured using a Lloyd's testing machine. The tensile bond strength of composite resin to etched enamel surfaces using a standard etch technique was significantly greater than that to dentine (p < 0.05). For those specimens subjected to the addition of the water additive 'Alpron' the bond strength to the enamel was still significantly greater than to the dentine (p< 0.005). The addition of 'Alpron' to the water significantly improved the bond strength of composite to enamel and dentine when etched and placed with 'Prime&BondNT' (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in bond strength of enamel and dentine specimens bonded using Xeno III (p> 0.05). However, the bond strength of dentine specimens bonded with Xeno III was significantly greater than other dentine specimens bonded with Prime&BondNT (p< 0.05). For those groups of specimens which included the water additive 'Alpron' in the regime, the tensile bond strength of the composite resin restorative material to enamel and dentine was greater than for those non water additive groups. The tensile bond strength of composite resin bonded to enamel surfaces prepared with 'Alpron' was significantly higher than that bonded to dentine surfaces.