Abstract
Continuous etching of aggressive all-in-one adhesives occurs in wet dentin tubules after polymerization of the adhesives. This study challenged the hypothesis that unpolymerized acidic monomers from an aggressive all-in-one self-etching adhesive continue to etch beyond dentin hybrid layers. Dentin surfaces bonded with Adper Prompt L-Pop were sectioned into 0.3-mm-thick slabs. Some of the slabs were stored in water (pH 6.8) or glycine buffer (pH 11.1) for six weeks and then examined by CLSM, SEM, and TEM. The rest were immersed in a biomimetic remineralizing medium for up to 4 months. Morphologic analysis indicated no difference in demineralization thickness between the two 6-week storage groups. However, increased permeability and loss of integrity occurred along the base of the hybrid layers in the glycine buffer group, but not in the water storage group. These findings were also confirmed by the results of biomimetic remineralization along the bases of those hybrid layers.
Keywords: continuous etching, glycine buffer, hybrid layer thickness, remineralization, self-etching adhesive
Introduction
All-in-one self-etching adhesives are the most user-friendly among the commercially available dentin adhesives. However, they exhibit compromised bonding effectiveness when compared with the three- step and two-step adhesives (Van Meerbeek et al., 2003; Peumans et al., 2005). They have been associated with several shortcomings, including severe nanoleakage and water entrapment within the adhesive (Tay et al., 2002, 2005), incompatibility with chemically cured composites (Tay et al., 2003), and phase separation of resin components (Van Landuyt et al., 2005).
Another potential disadvantage associated with the use of aggressive self-etching adhesives is that poorly polymerized acidic resin monomers may continue to etch the mineralized dentin beneath hybrid layers (Wang and Spencer, 2005). These resin-sparse zones of inadvertently etched dentin are susceptible to degradation during aging. It is doubtful, however, whether acidic monomers that are already partially neutralized (Spencer et al., 2000) as they diffuse through dentin with high buffering capacity (Camps and Pashley, 2000) remain acidic enough to continue demineralizing dentin beneath hybrid layers. Moreover, this potential problem has not been detected in clinical (Bradna et al., 2008; van Dijken and Pallesen, 2008) and long-term nanoleakage studies (Reis et al., 2007; do Amaral et al., 2009). Thus, the continuous etching potential of aggressive self-etching adhesives requires further clarification.
A nanotechnology-inspired dentin remineralization strategy based on the incorporation of dual biomimetic analogs in a Portland-cement-based medium has been reported (Tay and Pashley, 2008). This strategy was adopted for remineralization of completely demineralized hybrid layers that are devoid of seed crystallites for promoting epitaxial apatite growth within the collagen matrix (Tay and Pashley, 2009). Although the technique is not yet clinically applicable, it requires a high pH that would effectively buffer the acidic groups in aggressive self-etching adhesives, thereby preventing prolonged etching.
Thus, the first objective of the present study was to determine the interfacial ultrastructure and changes in hybrid layer thickness of an aggressive all-in-one self-etching adhesive after 6 wks of storage in either de-ionized water or a glycine buffer. The first hypothesis tested was that there are inherent deficiencies in hybrid layers created by the all-in-one adhesive that are not associated with the continuous etching of residual acidic resin monomers. The second objective was to correlate the events observed in those artificial aging schemes with the results of the biomimetic remineralization strategy. The second hypothesis tested was that the biomimetic remineralization strategy is effective in confirming the presence of resin-infiltration-related deficiencies in hybrid layers created by the adhesive.
Materials & Methods
Specimen Preparation
Twenty recently extracted human third molars were collected after patients’ informed consents were obtained under a protocol reviewed and approved by the Human Assurance Committee of the Medical College of Georgia. A flat dentin surface was prepared perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of each tooth by means of an Isomet saw (Buehler Ltd., Lake Bluff, IL, USA) and an Ecomet III polisher (Buehler Ltd.) to 320-grit roughness under water cooling. Adper Prompt L-Pop (3M ESPE, St. Paul, MN, USA) was applied to the dentin surface and agitated for 15 sec or 60 sec (fresh adhesive applied after 30 sec). The rationale for the extended application time was that any continuous etching beyond hybrid layers in the 15-second group would have been exaggerated and more clearly identified in the 60-second group. After gentle air-drying, light-curing of the adhesive was performed for 40 sec in a light-curing unit with an output intensity of 600 mW/cm2. A microfilled resin composite was placed in three 1-mm-thick increments over the light-cured adhesive and light-cured incrementally. The bonded teeth were stored at 100% relative humidity for 24 hrs at 37°C.
After storage, each tooth was sectioned into 0.3-mm-thick serial composite-dentin slabs. Three central slabs were selected from each tooth and randomly divided into 3 groups: de-ionized water, glycine buffer, and biomimetic remineralization (N = 10). The rationale for using a glycine buffer (pH 11.1) was to buffer all acidic monomers to prevent potential continuous etching beyond hybrid layers, as seen in specimens that were aged in de-ionized water (Wang and Spencer, 2005). We prepared the latter by mixing 0.15 M glycine/NaCl and 1.1 M NaOH in de-ionized water. The specimens were aged for 6 wks in either de-ionized water or the glycine buffer and examined with confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
Biomimetic Remineralization
We have found that defects in resin-bonded dentin remineralized in a biomimetic medium (Tay and Pashley, 2009). Briefly, each slab was placed over a set Portland cement block inside a glass scintillation vial. The vial was filled with 15 mL of a phosphate-containing fluid containing 500 µg/mL polyacrylic acid and 200 µg/mL polyvinylphosphonic acid as dual biomimetic analogs. Each slab was turned every 2 wks to ensure that both sides of the slab were in contact with the cement block. We retrieved the experimental slabs after 3 and 6 mos to examine the extent of remineralization with TEM.
Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy
The CLSM was used for non-destructive identification of the presence of porous dentin zones beneath the hybrid layers that were permeable to an aqueous fluorescent dye. Each slab was polished with a wet 1200-grit silicon carbide paper, ultrasonicated for 5 min, and immersed in a 0.1 wt% Lucifer yellow solution (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA; pH = 7.4). After 24 hrs, the dye-infiltrated slabs were rinsed with de-ionized water and examined with a two-photon CLSM (LSM 510 META, Carl Zeiss MicroImaging, Thornwood, NY, USA) that was coupled to a 10 W mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser (MIRA 900 System, Coherent Laser Group, Santa Clara, CA, USA). The excitation wavelength was 800 nm, with a pulse repetition rate of 90 MHz. A water immersion objective (C-Apochromat 63x/1.2 Zeiss, Toronto, ON, Canada) was used for capturing images commencing at 5 µm beneath the polished surface, to avoid superficial specimen preparation artifacts.
Scanning Electron Microscopy
For each of the 4 aged specimen groups (de-ionized-water-aged vs. Glycine-buffer-aged; 15-second-etched vs. 60-second-etched), 5 slabs were randomly selected after CLSM imaging for examination of the resin-dentin interfacial morphology. The surface of each slab was treated with 37% H3PO4 gel for 5 sec, followed by immersion in 5.25% NaOCl for 10 min to bring the resin-dentin interface into relief. The specimens were dehydrated in an ascending ethanol series (50-100%), immersed in hexamethyldisilazane, sputter-coated with gold/palladium, and examined with a field-emission SEM (XL-30 FEG; Philips, Eindhoven, The Netherlands) at 5 kV.
Transmission Electron Microscopy
The rest of the specimens from the 4 aged groups were processed for TEM together with the specimen slabs that had undergone biomimetic remineralization, according to a TEM protocol reported previously (Tay et al., 1999). Briefly, specimen slabs were dehydrated in an ascending ethanol series (50-100%), immersed in propylene oxide, and embedded in epoxy resin. Non-demineralized, 90- to 100-nm-thick sections were examined unstained by means of a JEM-1230 TEM (JEOL, Tokyo, Japan) at 110 kV.
Determination of Hybrid Layer Thickness
Ten CLSM and 10 TEM images from each of the 4 aged groups were analyzed with ImageJ (NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA). For each image, 10 measurements of the hybrid layer thickness were performed, resulting in 100 images per group. Since the intention of the study was not to compare hybrid layer thicknesses created by 15 sec vs. 60 sec of etching, CLSM and TEM data derived from the water-aged and glycine-buffer-aged groups of each etching time-period were analyzed separately by Student t tests with α = 0.05.
Results
No significant difference was found between hybrid layer thickness in the de-ionized-water-aged and glycine-buffer-aged groups for both the 15- and 60-second etching time-periods (p > 0.05), in both CLSM and TEM images (p > 0.05) (Table).
Table.
CLSM* |
TEM* |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|
Aging Medium |
||||
Application Time | De-ionized Water | Glycine Buffer | De-ionized Water | Glycine Buffer |
15 sec | 4.92 ± 0.59a | 5.09 ± 0.81a | 4.52 ± 0.43A | 4.46 ± 0.49A |
60 sec | 9.06 ± 0.921 | 8.85 ± 1.221 | 8.12 ± 1.00§ | 8.28 ± 1.30§ |
Data derived by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were analyzed separately. Likewise, data acquired from the two etching time-periods (i.e., 15 or 60 sec) were analyzed separately. For each data pair (e.g., de-ionized water vs. glycine buffer, CLSM images, 15-second etching time-period), the use of the same superscript indicates no significant difference (p > 0.05). Values are mean ± SD, in µm. N = 100.
Diffusion of the fluorescent dye into the permeable resin-bonded dentin subsurfaces resulted in baseline CLSM images that displayed pale-yellow hybrid layers in the baseline (i.e., before aging) specimens (Figs. 1A,1D) and de-ionized-water-aged groups (Figs. 1B,1E). Conversely, fluorescence was much brighter at the base of the hybrid layers in the glycine-buffer-aged specimens, indicating the highly permeable nature of those regions (Figs. 1C,1F).
Scanning electron microscopy of specimens from the de-ionized-water-aged groups (Figs. 2A, 2D) revealed acid-/base-resistant hybrid layers that closely approximated the underlying mineralized dentin base. There was no evidence of continuous etching beneath those hybrid layers. Conversely, specimens that were aged in glycine buffer depicted thin (0.5-2 µm thick), remnant acid-/base-resistant hybrid layers (Figs. 2B, 2E) that were accompanied by wide spaces between the bottoms of those hybrid layers and the mineralized dentin (Figs. 2C, 2F).
Transmission electron microscopy of specimens not subjected to biomimetic remineralization revealed hybrid layers that were approximately 5 µm thick for the 15-second (Fig. 3A) and 9 µm thick for the 60-second etching time-periods (Fig. 3D). Specimens that were placed in the biomimetic remineralization medium demonstrated remineralization along the base of the hybrid layer at 3 mos (Figs. 3B, 3E), with almost complete remineralization of the hybrid layers at 6 mos (Figs. 3C, 3F).
Discussion
It is clear that the aggressive all-in-one self-etching adhesive did not continue to etch beyond hybrid layers during the six-week period of aging in de-ionized water. However, similar resin-dentin interfaces that were aged in glycine buffer exhibited severe loss of integrity and increased dye permeability along the base of the hybrid layers. Since the hybrid layers derived from both groups were similar in thickness, we have to accept the first hypothesis, that there are inherent deficiencies in hybrid layers created by the all-in-one adhesive that are not associated with the continuous etching of residual acidic resin monomers. Apparently, those inherent deficiencies were identified only after the resin-dentin interfaces were aged in the alkaline glycine buffer. The resemblance between those inherent deficiencies and the remineralized regions of the hybrid layers led us to acknowledge the second hypothesis, that the biomimetic remineralization strategy is effective in confirming the presence of resin-infiltration-related deficiencies in hybrid layers created by the adhesive.
Continuous etching of highly acidic, unpolymerized acidic resin monomers into the underlying dentin should be accompanied by increases in permeability and thickness of the etched regions beneath the original hybrid layers (Wang and Spencer, 2005). These phenomena could not be confirmed in our water-aged specimens, even when etching times were increased from 15 sec to 60 sec. We attributed our results to the excellent buffering capacity of mineralized dentin. It has been observed (Camps and Pashley, 2000) that the amount of hydronium ions diffusing across dentin was the same regardless of application time of 37% H3PO4. They speculated that precipitation of calcium salts in dentinal tubules limited acid penetration. It has been further demonstrated (Maeda et al., 2008) that when self-etching adhesives were mixed with dentin powder for up to 600 sec, their pH values rapidly increased to above the critical pH (6.0-6.8) of dentin, preventing any further apatite dissolution (Hoppenbrouwers et al., 1986).
The acidic monomer in Adper Prompt L-Pop (di-HEMA phosphate) has a pKa value (1.7) that is comparable with that of H3PO4 (pKa1 = 2.1). Although the adhesive could have contained H3PO4 as impurities, di-HEMA phosphate and H3PO4 are comparably aggressive in terms of etching potential (Grégoire and Ahmed, 2007). However, di-HEMA phosphate exhibited a lower apatite-dissolving capacity than H3PO4 (Salz et al., 2006). This is probably due to the higher molecular weight of the acidic resin monomer di-HEMA phosphate (322 g/mol), giving it a lower molar concentration. Although water is required for ionization of acidic monomers, residual water also lowers their concentration (Hiraishi et al., 2005). This probably resulted in a resin-sparse, less highly polymerized region along the base of the hybrid layers.
Sodium hypochlorite has been used to expedite the degradation of resin-dentin bonds in simulated longevity studies (Yamauti et al., 2003; Toledano et al., 2006). For example, Toledano et al. (2006) reported that tensile bond strengths were reduced by 65-77% after resin-dentin beams were immersed in 10% NaOCl for 5 hrs. Since NaOCl is dissolved in NaOH, it is thought that NaOH is responsible for the reduction in hardness of resin composites (Bagheri et al., 2007). It appears that the NaOH-containing glycine buffer was able to exert a similar, albeit milder, degradation effect (i.e., 6 wks compared with 5 hrs for NaOCl) on the resin-dentin interfaces created by Adper Prompt L-Pop. This explains why the highly dye-permeable basal zone could be observed only in the glycine-buffer-aged groups and not in the de-ionized-water-aged groups. More importantly, these results indicate that there are variations in the quality of the hybrid layers created by the all-in-one adhesive, even when it etched and infiltrated the dentin simultaneously. The quality of the basal portion of these hybrid layers is clearly inferior to the quality of the surface portion. The present study further provided convincing evidence that these defects are not associated with the continuous etching effect of residual acidic resin monomers.
The striking resemblance between the expedited degradation (6 wks) of hybrid layers seen in the glycine-buffered specimens and the subsequent results (3-6 mos) of biomimetic remineralization of the hybrid layers provided further support of the variation in quality of the resin-dentin interfaces created by the aggressive all-in-one adhesive. As implied by our results, it may take a relatively long time (months to years) for these deficiencies to be eventually detected by water-aging, with the presumption that those hybrid layers are of high quality and resistant to acid-base challenge. During this “innocuous period”, the inferior regions of the hybrid layers could become degraded by endogenous collagenolytic enzymes (Pashley et al., 2004; Carrilho et al, 2008) that are retained within the demineralized dentin matrix (Mazzoni et al., 2007) and activated by the buffered acidic resin monomers (Nishitani et al., 2006). It is impossible for a degraded collagen matrix to be remineralized (Xu et al., 2007), even in the presence of dentin non-collagenous proteins or their biomimetic analogs, to the hierarchy of apatite deposition that is found in mineralized hard tissues (Traub et al., 1992). The present biomimetic remineralization scheme represents a proof-of-concept only, since remineralization was achieved via sideways diffusion of amorphous calcium phosphate nanoprecursors, instead of from the top of the resin-bonded dentin. The successful remineralization of those inferior regions within the hybrid layers that are undetectable with a conventional water-aging protocol highlights our urgent need to understand the mechanism of biomimetic remineralization for clinically applicable remineralization delivery systems to be designed. It is important that biomimetic remineralization commence before degradation of the collagen matrix.
In conclusion, the incompletely resin-infiltrated zone in hybrid layers created by an aggressive all-in-one self-etching adhesive was not associated with continuous etching of remnant acidic resin monomers. Degradation of this incompletely resin-infiltrated zone was expedited with the use of an alkaline glycine buffer as the aging medium. This incompletely resin-infiltration zone was amenable to biomimetic remineralization prior to degradation of its collagen matrix.
Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to Mrs. Michelle Barnes for secretarial support.
Footnotes
This work was supported by grant R21 DE019213 from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (F.R. Tay).
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