On 12 human molars, a flat superficial dentine surface was exposed by wet abrasion. A model simplified adhesive system was formulated (40 wt. % UDMA/MDP, 30 wt. % HEMA and 30 wt. % ethanol). Two initiator systems were investigated: 0.5 mol % CQ + 1.0 mol % EDMAB and 0.5 mol % CQ + 1.0 mol % EDMAB + 0.2 mol % DPIH. Each adhesive was applied and light-cured (10 s; 600 mW/cm2). Composite build-ups were constructed incrementally and resin-dentine specimens (0.8 mm2) were prepared. For NL, 3 bonded sticks from each tooth were coated with nail varnish, placed in the silver nitrate, polished down with SiC papers and analysed by EDX-SEM. NH and YM were performed on the hybrid layer in 2 bonded sticks from each teeth. The remaining bonded sticks were tested on ¦ÌTBS (0.5 mm/min). The data from each test were submitted to a Student t-test (¦Á = 0.05).
No significant difference was found for ¦ÌTBS between groups (p > 0.05). Significant lower NL and higher NH and YM were found in the hybrid layer and adhesive layer produced with the iodinium salt-containing adhesive (p < 0.05).
The inclusion of the DPIH to the traditional CQ is a good strategy to improve the adhesive and mechanical properties of a simplified etch-and-rinse adhesive system.