The Effect of Enamel Surface Reduction in vitro on the Bonding of Composite Resin to Permanent Human Enamel

The shear bond strength between composite resin and human permanent tooth enamel was measured on unabraded tooth surfaces and after mechanical reduction of 0.1 mm and 0.6 mm of the enamel surface. There was a higher bond strength following the reduction of 0.1 mm of the surface (p less than 0.05) and 0.6 mm of the surface (p less than 0.01). Mechanical surface reduction was associated with increased residual composite at the bond site after debonding.