Effect of silver diamine fluoride application on the microtensile bond strength of three commonly used restorative materials in primary teeth: An ultrastructural study.

INTRODUCTION: Caries in primary teeth rapidly advances owing to its thin structure, thereby requiring restoration. However, restorations often fail due to various causes such as secondary caries and reduced microtensile bond strength (μTBS), which calls for the use of antimicrobial agents such as silver diamine fluoride (SDF).

AIM: This study aims to measure and analyse the effect of SDF application on the μTBS of three regularly used restorative materials to dentin of primary teeth as well as compare the types of bond failure interfaces under SEM.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study comprised 60 samples equally divided into six groups among three restorative materials, namely, glass ionomer cement (GIC, Groups I and II), resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC, Groups III and IV), and composite resin (Groups V and VI) with subdivisions of A and B, where A represented samples with SDF application and B represented samples without SDF application.

RESULTS AND OBSERVATIONS: It was observed that μTBS of RMGIC to sound and carious dentin irrespective of SDF application was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05), and when GIC, RMGIC, and composite resins were compared to both sound and carious dentin irrespective of SDF application, it was statistically significant (P < 0.05). SEM analysis revealed predominantly cohesive failures among all the groups.

CONCLUSION: Based on the results, it was concluded that SDF has no adverse effect on the μTBS of GIC, RMGIC, and composite resin to both carious and sound dentin of primary teeth.