Bioactive Two-step Approach: Promising Bonding Strategy for a One-step Self-etch Universal Adhesive.

PURPOSE To evaluate the potential of an additional application of two novel hydrophobic experimental adhesive resins with or without bioactive zinc fluoride glass to promote the bond strength of a one-step self-etch universal adhesive. MATERIALS AND METHODS Three self-etch universal adhesives, G-Premio Bond (GPB), Scotchbond Universal (SBU) and Clearfil SE Bond 2 (SE2), and two experimental adhesive resins, BZF210 and BZF21, were used in this study; thus, five groups were formed: GPB, GPB+BZF210, GPB+BZF21, SBU, and SE2. The adhesives were applied to flat dentin surfaces according to each manufacturer's instructions. The microtensile bond strengths (μTBS) were evaluated after 24-h water storage. The fracture modes and interfacial structures were analyzed using SEM, while elemental analysis was performed using SEM-EDS. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and the Games-Howell test (p < 0.05). RESULTS Significantly higher μTBS was achieved by additional application of BZF210 (48.68 ± 6.59 MPa) and BZF21 (58.58 ± 2.84 MPa) compared with GPB (33.57 ± 4.22 MPa) alone. Most failures occurred above the smear layer in GBP, while more cohesive and mixed failures were observed in GBP+BZF210, GPB+BZF21, SBU, and SE2. The interfacial structures revealed that GBP+BZF210 and GPB+BZF21 had more and longer resin tags than did GPB. SEM-EDS showed a particularly high peak of zinc in GPB+BZF21. CONCLUSIONS The bond strength of GPB was significantly improved by the additional application of BZF210 and BZF21. Using an additional bioactive hydrophobic layer on a one-step, self-etch universal adhesive can significantly improve its bonding efficacy and extend its clinical options.