OBJECTIVE

The study investigated the effect of 2%s odium hypochlorite gel application after post-etching salivary contamination on composite bonding strength to primary teeth enamel.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The sample consisted of 79 primary human teeth that were extracted no more than one month ago. The sample was randomly divided into four groups: (1) the control group (A) comprised 10 primary teeth, and composites were applied in the traditional manner without any salivary contamination; (2) the second group (B) consisted of 23 primary teeth in which salivary contamination was conducted after etching followed by re-etching and follow-up; (3) the third group (C) comprised 23 primary teeth in which saliva contamination was done after etching followed by washing, drying, and follow-up; and (4) the fourth group (D) comprised 23 primary teeth, in which salivary contamination was conducted after etching followed by application of sodium hypochlorite gel and follow-up. The samples were tested using the Testometric Tensile Strength Device (Testometric M350-10 kN, Testometric Ltd., UK) to measure the composite bonding strength to enamel of primary teeth.

RESULTS

The arithmetic mean strength values in the research sample were ordered as followed: (A=13.39 MPa) > (D=11.82 MPa) > (C=8.07 MPa) > (B=6.15 MPa). The application of sodium hypochlorite gel after salivary contamination significantly improved the composite bonding strength to primary teeth enamel when compared with re-etching or only washing and drying.

CONCLUSION

15 s exposition of sodium hypochlorite gel with subsequent rinse and drying is recommended in case of saliva contamination of etched primary tooth enamel surface.