Background: Several studies have shown a reduction in enamel bond strengths when the bonding procedure is carried out immediately after vital bleaching with peroxides. This reduction in bond strengths has become a concern in cosmetic dentistry with the introduction of new "inoffice" and "waiting-room" bleaching techniques. The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of three bleaching regimens: 35% hydrogen peroxide (HP), 35 % carbamide peroxide (CP), and 10% CP, on dentin bond strengths. Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty fresh bovine incisors were used in this study. The labial surface of each tooth was ground flat to expose dentin and was subsequently polished with 600-grit wet silicon carbide paper. The remaining dentin thickness was monitored and kept at an average of 2 mm. The teeth were randomly assigned to four bleaching regimens (n = 30): (A) control, no bleaching treatment; (B) 35% HP for 30 minutes; (C) 35% CP for 30 minutes; and (D) 10% CP for 6 hours. For each group, half of the specimens (n = 15) were bonded with Single Bond/ZlOO immediately after the bleaching treatment, whereas the other half was bonded after the specimens were stored for 1 week in artificial saliva at 37°C. The specimens were fractured in shear using an Instron machine. Results: For the groups bonded immediately after bleaching, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by the Duncan's post hoc test revealed a statistically significant reduction in bond strengths in a range from 71% to 76%. For the groups bonded at 1 week, one-way ANOVA showed that group B (35% HP for 30 min) resulted in the highest bond strengths, whereas 10% CP resulted in the lowest bond strengths. Student's t-test showed that delayed bonding resulted in a significant increase in bond strengths for groups B (35% HP) and C (35% CP); whereas the group bleached with 10% CP (group D) remained in the same range obtained for immediate bonding. Storage in artificial saliva also affected the control group, reducing its bond strengths to 53% of the original. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCEDentin bond strengths are significantly reduced when bonding is performed immediately after bleaching both for at-home and for in-office bleaching regimens. When dentin is exposed to the oral environment, such as in cervical lesions and veneer preparations that extend into dentin, 1 week of elapsed time between bleaching and restorative treatment significantly increases bond strengths for both of the in-office bleaching regimens, but not for the at-home regimen.

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The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of plasma treatment using argon and oxygen gases, combined with fiber position on flexural properties of a fiber-reinforced composite. Eleven groups were evaluated, a non-reinforced control group and 10 groups reinforced with InFibra, a woven polyethylene fiber, varying according to the plasma treatment and fiber position. The samples were prepared using a stainless steel two-piece matrix. The three point bending test was performed in an EMIC testing machine. Flexural strength (FS) and flexural deflection (FD) were calculated from initial (IF) and final (FF) failure. Data were evaluated statistically using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests (p<0.05). For IF, in all groups with fibers placed on the base, the FS and FD values were significantly higher than those positioned away from the base. The highest value of FS was obtained in the group treated with O 3 min (296.2 MPa) and the highest value of FD was obtained in the group treated with 1 min (0.109 mm). For FF the FS and FD values obtained for the groups with fibers positioned away from the base were similar or higher than those placed on the base. The highest FS value was obtained in the group treated with 1 min (317.5 MPa) and the highest FD value was obtained in the group treated with O 3 min (0.177 mm). Plasma treatment influenced FS and FD. Fiber position and plasma treatment affected the flexural properties of a fiber-reinforced composite.

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Plasma technology has the potential to improve the adherence of fibers to polymeric matrices, and there are prospects for its application in dentistry to reinforce the dental particulate composite. Objectives This study aimed to investigate the effect of oxygen or argon plasma treatment on polyethylene fibers.Material and Methods Connect, Construct, InFibra, and InFibra treated with oxygen or argon plasma were topographically evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and chemically by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). For bending analysis, one indirect composite (Signum) was reinforced with polyethylene fiber (Connect, Construct, or InFibra). The InFibra fiber was subjected to three different treatments: (1) single application of silane, (2) oxygen or argon plasma for 1 or 3 min, (3) oxygen or argon plasma and subsequent application of silane. The samples (25x2x2 mm), 6 unreinforced and 60 reinforced with fibers, were subjected to three-point loading tests to obtain their flexural strength and deflection. The results were statistically analyzed with ANOVA and the Bonferroni correction for multiple comparison tests.Results SEM analysis showed that oxygen and argon plasma treatments promote roughness on the polyethylene fiber surface. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis shows that both plasmas were effective in incorporating oxygenated functional groups. Argon or oxygen plasma treatment affected the flexural strength and deflection of a fiber reinforced composite. The application of silane does not promote an increase in the flexural strength of the reinforced composites.Conclusions Oxygen and argon plasma treatments were effective in incorporating oxygenated functional groups and surface roughness. The highest strength values were obtained in the group reinforced with polyethylene fibers treated with oxygen plasma for 3 min.