Effect of handpiece maintenance method on bond strength

This study evaluated the effect of dental handpiece lubricant on the shear bond strength of three bonding agents to dentin. A lubrication-free handpiece (one that does not require the user to lubricate it) and a handpiece requiring routine lubrication were used in the study. In addition, two different handpiece lubrication methods (automated versus manual application) were also investigated. One hundred and eighty extracted human teeth were ground to expose flat dentin surfaces that were then finished with wet silicon carbide paper. The teeth were randomly divided into 18 groups (n=10). The dentin surface of each specimen was exposed for 30 seconds to water spray from either a lubrication-free handpiece or a lubricated handpiece. Prior to exposure, various lubrication regimens were used on the handpieces that required lubrication. The dentin surfaces were then treated with total-etch, two-step; a self-etch, two-step or a self-etch, one-step bonding agent. Resin composite cylinders were bonded to dentin, the specimens were then thermocycled and tested to failure in shear at seven days. Mean bond strength data were analyzed using Dunnett's multiple comparison test at an 0.05 level of significance. Results indicated that within each of the bonding agents, there were no significant differences in bond strength between the control group and the treatment groups regardless of the type of handpiece or use of routine lubrication.