Effect of different surface treatments on the composite-composite repair bond strength

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different mechanical and adhesive treatments on the bond strength between pre-existing composite and repair composite using two aging times of the composite to be repaired. Standardized cylinders were made of a microhybrid composite (Spectrum TPH) and stored in saline at 37 degrees C for 24 h (n = 140) or 6 months (n = 140). Three types of mechanical roughening were selected: diamond-coated bur followed by phosphoric acid etching, mini sandblaster with 50-mu m aluminum oxide powder, and 30-mu m silica-coated aluminum oxide powder (CoJet Sand), respectively. Adhesive treatment was performed with the components of a multi-step bonding system (OptiBond FL) or with a one-bottle primer-adhesive (Excite). In the CoJet Sand group, the effect of a silane coupling agent (Monobond-S) was also investigated. The repair composite (Spectrum TPH) was applied into a mould in three layers of 1 mm, each separately light-cured for 40 s. Repair tensile bond strengths were determined after 24-h storage. Mechanical and adhesive treatment had significant effects on repair bond strength (P < 0.001). The age of the pre-existing composite had no significant effect (P = 0.955). With one exception (CoJet Sand/OptiBond FL Adhesive), adhesive treatments significantly increased repair bond strengths to 6-month-old composite when compared to the controls without adhesive. Adhesive treatment of the mechanically roughened composite is essential for achieving acceptable repair bond strengths. The more complicated use of silica-coated particles for sandblasting followed by a silane coupling agent had no advantage over common bonding systems.