Dentine bonding after CPP-ACP paste treatment with and without conditioning

Objectives To evaluate microshear bond strength (MSBS) to dentine following application of a casein phosphopeptide amorphous calcium phosphate paste (Tooth Mousse (TM)), and the effect of smear layer removal before paste application and preconditioning. Methods Specimens of polished human dentine were divided into two groups: 1, smear layer retained; 2, smear layer removed using 15% EDTA for 90 s. In each group, half the specimens were left untreated and half treated with TM for 60 min daily × 7 days. Each subgroup was divided into three further subgroups for conditioning (Primer only; 30–40% phosphoric acid (PA) + primer; 20% polyacrylic acid (CC) + primer). Two self-etching/priming adhesives (Clearfil SE Bond (CSE) and G-Bond (GB)) were used for bonding resin composite to superficial/deep dentine and after 24 h, stressed in shear until failure. Maximum loads at failure and bond failure modes were recorded. Group means were compared using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc test at α = 0.05. Results TM did not significantly affect MSBS in group 1. In group 2, there was a statistically significant increase in MSBS for CSE on deep dentine (P = 0.002) and a reduction for GB (P = 0.013) on superficial dentine. PA conditioning did not significantly affect MSBS for CSE and GB while CC significantly reduced MSBS for GB. Conclusions TM application did not reduce MSBS for CSE but significantly reduced MSBS for GB when the smear layer was removed before paste treatment. Preconditioning did not improve or worsen dentine MSBS for CSE or GB with/without TM, except when CC was used with GB.