Effect of an 8.0% arginine and calcium carbonate in-office desensitizing paste on the shear bond strength of composites to human dental enamel.

PURPOSE To evaluate the effect of 8.0% arginine and calcium carbonate, in-office desensitizing paste (Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief Desensitizing Paste) on the shear bond strength of composites to human dental enamel. METHODS Two resin composites (Filtek Supreme, Premise) and human dental enamel were used. 16 samples per composite were prepared. Caries-free extracted human molars, not older than 3 months, and stored in distilled water were used for this portion of the experiment. Buccal and lingual surfaces were polished with high polishing pastes to create a uniform flat surface area to which the cylindrical composite samples were bonded. After polishing, the samples were rinsed in tap water and stored at 100% relative humidity. The resin composites were used to form cylindrical samples 3 mm x 1.6 mm, which were light-cured with a Demetron curing light according to the manufacturers' instructions. For each composite, 32 surfaces were used; 16 were a control group with the enamel polished with a water slurry of flour of pumice. The experimental group had the enamel polished with the 8.0% arginine and calcium carbonate desensitizing paste, using disposable latex free prophy cups with a slow speed hand piece at 3,000 rpm using moderate to light pressure, according to manufacturer's instructions. The composite cylinders were bonded to the enamel with their respective etching agents and adhesives and left in distilled water for 48 hours, after which the samples were sheared with an Instron testing machine at 0.5 mm/minute. After shearing, all samples were analyzed with a stereo microscope to evaluate failure pattern (failure at the enamel surface, failure at the composite surface, or mixed failure, at both enamel and composite surfaces). SEM images of selected surfaces were made to depict the overall morphology of the surface of dental materials used after 8.0% arginine and calcium carbonate desensitizing paste, application and shear strength tests. ANOVA and Student-Newman-Keuls tests (P < 0.05) were used to evaluate the difference among the groups. RESULTS The 8.0% arginine and calcium carbonate desensitizing paste did not have a significant effect on the shear bond strength of the composites tested to enamel.