Long-term TEM analysis of the nanoleakage patterns in resin–dentin interfaces produced by different bonding strategies

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of etch-and-rinse and self-etching adhesive systems to prevent time- and water-induced nanoleakage in resin–dentin interfaces over a 6-month storage period. Methods Five commercial adhesives were tested, which comprise three different strategies of bonding resins to tooth hard tissues: one single-step self-etching adhesive (One-up Bond F (OB), Tokuyama); two two-step self-etching primers (Clearfil SE Bond (SE) and an antibacterial fluoride-containing system, Clearfil Protect Bond (CP), Kuraray Inc.); two two-step etch-and-rinse adhesives (Single Bond (SB), 3M ESPE and Prime&Bond NT (PB), Dentsply). Restored teeth were sectioned into 0.9 mm thick slabs and stored in water or mineral oil for 24 h, 3 or 6 months. A silver tracer solution was used to reveal nanometer-sized water-filled spaces and changes that occurred over time within resin–dentin interfaces. Characterization of interfaces was performed with the TEM. Results The two two-step self-etching primers showed little silver uptake during the 6-month experiment. Etch-and-rinse adhesives exhibited silver deposits predominantly within the hybrid layer (HL), which significantly increased for SB after water-storage. The one-step self-etching adhesive OB presented massive silver accumulation within the HL and water-trees protruding into the adhesive layer, which increased in size and quantity after water-storage. After storage in oil, reduced silver deposition was observed at the interfaces for all groups. Significance Different levels of water-induced nanoleakage were observed for the different bonding strategies. The two-step self-etching primers, especially the antibacterial fluoride-containing system CP, showed the least nanoleakage after 6 months of storage in water.