The effect of dentin pre-treatment and heat-augmented cure on marginal gap formation of a dentin bonding agent

This study evaluated the effect of enhancing the cure of a DBA and the effect of dentin surface pre-treatment on marginal gap formation. Dentin cavities were prepared on extracted teeth and were pre-treated either with EDTA or phosphoric acid. Marginal leakage was expressed as percent length of margins with gaps. The mean percent length of margins with gaps for the chemically cured groups ranged from a maximum of 97% to a minimum of 85%. For the chemical/thermal-cured group, the mean percent length of margins with gaps was 95%, 95%, 73%, 35%, and 65%, corresponding to the following: pre-treatment, no pre-treatment, EDTA, and phosphoric acid for 60, 15, or five s, respectively. SEM micrographs showed partial removal of one smear layer with EDTA and total removal of the smear layers with phosphoric acid. It is concluded that dentin pre-treatment methods have an effect on the percent length of margins with gaps when the DBA used had its cure supplemented with heat.