The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of estrogen deficiency on pulpodentinal complex of tooth in ovariectomized rats. Thirty female Sprague-Dawley rats, 10 weeks old, were used. Rats were grouped into two groups. One group (n = 15) was subjected to sham surgery (SHAM) and the other group (n = 15) was ovariectomized bilaterally (OVX). Animals were sacrificed 12 weeks later, and their mandibular molars and associated periodontal supporting tissues were dissected out, and fixed in 10% buffered formalin. For comparison of groups, immunostained for osteonectin. Histomorphometrical measurement of change of teeth was performed using an image analysis system and paired t-test was used and the level of significance for overall differences was set at p < 0.05.

In immunostaining of osteonectin, they were significantly different from each other. The predentin thickness in OVX rats was wider than in SHAM rats. And in SHAM rats, osteonectin was more specifically stained in predentin areas than in OVX rats. These results indicate that estrogen deficiency increased the unmineralized predentin areas and decreased osteonectin content in pulpal tissues in rats. If our result is applicable to human studies, odotoblast is affected by estrogen deficiency.

This study compared the microshear bond strength (µSBS) to end and side of enamel rod bonded by four adhesives including two total etch adhesives and two self-etch adhesives.

Crown segments of extracted human molars were cut mesiodistally. The outer buccal or lingual surface was used as specimens cutting the ends of enamel rods, and inner slabs used as specimens cutting the sides of enamel rods.

They were assigned to four groups by used adhesives: Group 1 (All-Bond 2), Group 2 (Single Bond), Group 3 (Tyrian SPE/One-Step Plus), Group 4 (Adper Prompt L-Pop). After each adhesive was applied to enamel surface, three composite cylinders were adhered to it of each specimen using Tygon tube. After storage in distilled water for 24 hours, the bonded specimens were subjected to µSBS testing with a crosshead speed of 1 mm/minute. The results of this study were as follows;

1. The µSBS of Group 2 (16.50 ± 2.31 _MPa) and Group 4 (15.83 ± 2.33 _MPa) to the end of enamel prism was significantly higher than that of Group 1 (11.93 ± 2.25 _MPa) and Group 3 (11.97 ± 2.05 _MPa) (p < 0.05).

2. The µSBS of Group 2 (13.43 ± 2.93 _MPa) to the side of enamel prism was significantly higher than that of Group 1 (8.64 ± 1.53 _MPa), Group 3 (9.69 ± 1.80 _MPa), and Group 4 (10.56 ± 1.75 _MPa) (p < 0.05).

3. The mean µSBS to the end of enamel rod was significantly higher than that to the side of enamel rod in all group (p < 0.05).

This study evaluated the influence of application time of self-etching primers on microtensile bond strength (μTBS) to dentin using three self-etching primer adhesive systems.

Dentin surfaces were exposed from forty-eight human molars. They were conditioned with three self-etching primers (Clearfil SE Bond [SE], Unifil Bond [UF], Tyrian SPE + One Step Plus [TY]) and different primining times (10s, 20s, 30s and 40s). Composite resins were bonded to dentin surfaces and specimens were made. μTBS was tested and statistically compared using by one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s Test.

The results of this study presented that priming time for 10s in SE and UF groups and for 30s and 40s in TY group was highly decreased μTBS to dentin.

This study evaluated the microleakage and interfacial gap between enamel and composite resin under the dry and wet condition of the enamel surface. V shaped class 5 cavities were prepared on the occlusal portion of extracted human molars. Samples were divided into three groups: D group (air dry for 10-15 s), BD group (blot dry with moist cotton pellet), and DR group (air dry for 10-15 s and rewet with Aqua-Prep F for 20 s).

Cavities were filled using Aelitefil composite resin after applied One-Step. Microleakage was tested by 2% methylene blue dye solution and the data were statistically analysed by Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney test. Also Enamel-resin interface was observed under SEM. Group BD showed statistically lower microleakage than group D (p < 0.05), but there was no statistically significant difference between group BD and DR (p > 0.05). At the enamel-resin interface, group D showed the gap of 2 µm thickness, but group BD and DR showed close adaptation.

In conclusion, the use of blot dry and rewetting agent (Aqua-Prep F) resulted in decreased microleakage and improved adhesion between enamel and resin when using One-Step.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of immediate or delayed composite resin filling on dentinal microtensile bond strength (µTBS) after applied the adhesive.

The coronal dentin of human third molars was exposed. Single-Bond or One-Step was applied on the dentin surfaces, and composite resin were constructed immediately (group 1) or 5 min., 10 min., 15 min., 20 min. and 30 min. (groups 2-6) after an adhesive was applied. The specimens were sectioned and made bar-shaped. Each surface area of them was about 1mm². The µTBS test was performed by EZ test. The results were analysed by One-way ANOVA and Tukey's test at 95% significance level.

The results suggested that the µTBS of Single-Bond to dentin was decreased when the composite resin was constructed 20 min. and 30 min. after Single-Bond was applied. But the µTBS of One-Step was not affected by delayed composite resin filling.