Effect of saliva contamination on bond strength of resin luting cements to dentin

Objectives: This study examined the effect of saliva contamination on the microtensile bond strength (μTBS) of resin luting cements to dentin. Methods: For RelyX ARC (ARC, 3M ESPE), dentin surfaces were etched with 32% phosphoric acid. The subgroups were: ARC-control (uncontaminated), ARC-I (saliva contamination, blot-dried), ARC-II (saliva contamination, rinse, blot-dried) and ARC-III (saliva contamination, rinse, re-etch, rinse, blot-dried). For Panavia F 2.0 (PF, Kuraray), the subgroups were: PF-control (uncontaminated), PF-I (saliva contamination, dried), PF-II (saliva contamination, rinse, dried), PF-III (primer, saliva contamination, dried), PF-IV (primer, saliva contamination, dried, primer re-applied) and PF-V (primer, saliva contamination, rinse, dried, primer re-applied). Composite blocks were luted onto dentin using the two cements. Bonded specimens were sectioned into 0.9 mm × 0.9 mm beams for μTBS testing. Representative fractured beams were prepared for fractographic analysis. Results: For ARC, salivary contamination of etched dentin (ARC-I) significantly lowered bond strength (p = 0.001). Rinsing saliva off with water (ARC-II) restored bond strength to control level. Re-etching dentin surface after rinsing (ARC-III) resulted in the lowest bond strength (p < 0.001). For PF, salivary contamination of dentin before (PF-I) and after application of primer (PF-III and PF-IV) significantly lowered bond strength (p < 0.001). Rinsing saliva off with water and re-application of primer (PF-II and PF-V) improved bond strength. Conclusion: Saliva contamination during luting deteriorated the bond quality of resin cements. Decontamination by rinsing with water was most effective in restoring the bond strength of RelyX ARC. Decontamination by water-rinsing and primer re-application after rinsing improved the bond strength of Panavia F 2.0.