Effect of inositol hexaphosphate acid versus polyacrylic acid on dentin properties and adhesion of a self-adhesive restorative material to dentin

This study evaluated the effect of 2% inositol hexaphosphate (IP6) and 10% polyacrylic acid (PAA) on dentin surface micromorphology, matrix/mineral ratio, microhardness, and resin−dentin shear bond strength (SBS) of a self-adhesive restorative material (Surefil™ One; Dentsply Sirona, Konstanz, Germany). Human permanent molar mid-coronal dentin discs were either not treated (control), conditioned with 10% PAA (Dentin Conditioner, GC, Tokyo, Japan) for 20 s, or etched with 2% IP6 for 20 s. Dentin surface micromorphology (etching pattern), matrix/mineral ratio, and microhardness were characterized by a scanning electron microscope (SEM), a confocal Raman microscope and a microhardness tester using the Vickers indenter, respectively. Sound molars were cut flat, mounted, surface treated and restored with Surefil™ One, Dentsply. The shear bond strength (SBS) was evaluated using a universal testing machine at 24 h and after 10k thermo-cycles. The failure modes were assessed. One-way and two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by the Tukey's multiple comparisons test was used for the statistical analysis. IP6 etching resulted in a more aggressive and uniform etching pattern compared with PAA. The mineral/matrix and Vickers microhardness of IP6-etched dentin were significantly less than those of PAA-conditioned dentin. IP6 etching significantly improved the resin−dentin SBS compared with the control group (no treatment) at 24 h and after thermo-cycling. Adhesive failures were the most predominant in all study groups. Inositol hexaphosphate acid etching deteriorated dentin microhardness and resulted in substantial demineralization, however, it eliminated the dentin smear layer completely and created marked micromorphological alteration at dentin surface, significantly increasing the resin−dentin SBS of a self-adhesive restorative material.