RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: The study investigated the effect of 2%s odium hypochlorite gel application after post-etching salivary contamination on composite bonding strength to primary teeth enamel. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 79 primary human teeth that were extracted no more than one month ago. The sample was randomly divided into four groups: (1) the control group (A) comprised 10 primary teeth, and composites were applied in the traditional manner without any salivary contamination; (2) the second group (B) consisted of 23 primary teeth in which salivary contamination was conducted after etching followed by re-etching and follow-up; (3) the third group (C) comprised 23 primary teeth in which saliva contamination was done after etching followed by washing, drying, and follow-up; and (4) the fourth group (D) comprised 23 primary teeth, in which salivary contamination was conducted after etching followed by application of sodium hypochlorite gel and follow-up. The samples were tested using the Testometric Tensile Strength Device (Testometric M350-10 kN, Testometric Ltd., UK) to measure the composite bonding strength to enamel of primary teeth. RESULTS: The arithmetic mean strength values in the research sample were ordered as followed: (A=13.39 MPa) > (D=11.82 MPa) > (C=8.07 MPa) > (B=6.15 MPa). The application of sodium hypochlorite gel after salivary contamination significantly improved the composite bonding strength to primary teeth enamel when compared with re-etching or only washing and drying. CONCLUSION: 15 s exposition of sodium hypochlorite gel with subsequent rinse and drying is recommended in case of saliva contamination of etched primary tooth enamel surface.
