Influence of blood contamination on adhesion between dentin and composite resin

Abstract

We measured the tensile bond strength (TBS) between composite resin and bovine dentin contaminated by freshly stocked human blood or plasma. We used a commercial bonding system and observed the contaminated dentin at each step by SEM to determine the effect of the blood contamination on dentin adhesion. We found that blood contamination of ground dentin decreased TBS. No effective method of removal was found except to prepare the dentin again. Significantly lower TBS was found when the blood was removed by blowing with air rather than by rinsing with water. We also sometimes found unidentified material remaining on the contaminated dentin surface after removal procedures.