Evaluation of Shear Bond Strength and Microleakage of Self-adhesive Giomer

Abstract

This study was aimed to evaluate the bonding performance of a self-adhesive giomer and compare it to a conventional flowable composite resin with regard to shear bond strength and microleakage in enamel and dentin. Healthy human premolars extracted for orthodontic treatments were used in the study. For shear bond strength tests, enamel and dentin specimens were prepared for the study group with selfadhesive giomer and for the control group with conventional flowable composite resin with a 5th-generation adhesive system. A universal testing machine was used to measure the shear bond strength. For the microleakage tests, specimens were immersed in a 2% methylene blue solution for 24 hours, cut into sections, and evaluated with a stereomicroscope for the extent of dye penetration. The results of the study showed no statistically significant difference in shear bond strength between the self-adhesive giomer and the conventional flowable composite resin in enamel (<i>p</i> = 0.091). On the contrary, in dentin, the self-adhesive giomer showed significantly lower shear bond strength (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). The microleakage of the selfadhesive giomer was significantly higher than that of the conventional flowable composite resin (<i>p</i> = 0.002). Self-adhesive giomer is considered useful for restoring small cavities at the enamel level of pediatric patients by reducing chair time with the advantage of a simple bonding process. However, as the study was conducted in a laboratory setting, further research in a clinical environment is deemed necessary.