The shear bond strength of acetone and ethanol-based bonding agents to bleached teeth.

PURPOSE The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the: (1) shear bond strength (SBS) of acetone and ethanol-based bonding agents to composite resin 24 hours after being bleached with 35% hydrogen peroxide; and (2) interface morphology and mode of fracture (IMMF) between composite resin and enamel. METHODS Forty extracted teeth were randomly assigned into 4 groups: (1) group 1: 35% H2O2 + acetone; (2) group 2: H2O2 + ethanol; (3) group 3: acetone; (4) group 4: ethanol. All teeth were acid etched, bonding agents were applied, and a composite resin stub was bonded and stored again in saline for 24 hours. SBS was determined, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used for IMMF evaluation. RESULTS SBS was significantly lower in bleached than unbleached teeth (P < .001), but SBS did not differ between the acetone-based or ethanol-based adhesives (P = .55) and bleaching did not interact with adhesive treatment (P = .39). IMMF analysis of the unbleached teeth showed a continuous interface between the resin and enamel. By contrast, bleached teeth showed sparse contact between the resin and enamel and the resin was poorly infiltrated into the enamel surface. CONCLUSION Morphologic changes in human tooth enamel, 24 hours after bleaching, were associated with a reduction in the shear bond strength of adhesives.