Influence of Two Different Methods of Delivering Fluoride on Bond Strength and Degree of Conversion of an Adhesive After Bleaching

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of fluoride delivery and restoration time point on the microshear bond strength (mSBS) and degree of conversion (DC) values of an adhesive applied on bleached enamel. Materials and Methods: Fifty-four enamel specimens were submitted to bleaching and divided into 3 groups of n = 18: group HP: 35% hydrogen peroxide (HP); group HPF: HP + 1.23% sodium fluoride application (F); group PF: 38% HP with F. A control group of n = 6 was neither bleached nor fluoridated. Subsequently, each group except the control was subdivided into 3 subgroups (n = 6) to be restored immediately, or at 7 or 14 days. Tygon tubes were filled with composite resin and placed on enamel surfaces, then the mSBS test was performed. The DC of the interface was observed with Raman spectroscopy. The data were submitted to two-way ANOVA and Tukey's and Dunnet's post-hoc test (alpha = 0.05). Results: The mSBS results showed higher values for groups HP and HPF at 14 days compared with immediate and 7 days (p < 0.05). Lower DC values were obtained in the immediately restored groups HP and HPF, which were significantly different from 7 and 14 days (p < 0.05). mSBS and DC for group PF was similar at all restoration time points and to the control group (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Only the use of a fluoridated in-office bleaching agent (Opalescence Boost PF) proved to be effective for immediately reversing the side effects of low mSBS and DC values when in-office bleaching is used.