The influence of an oxygen-inhibited layer (OIL) on the shear bond strength (SBS) to enamel and surface free-energy (SFE) of adhesive systems was investigated. The adhesive systems tested were Scotchbond Multipurpose (SM), Clearfil SE Bond (CS), and Scotchbond Universal (SU). Resin composite was bonded to bovine enamel surfaces to determine the SBS, with and without an OIL, of adhesives. The SFE of cured adhesives with and without an OIL were determined by measuring the contact angles of three test liquids. There were no significant differences in the mean SBS of SM and CS specimens with or without an OIL; however, the mean SBS of SU specimens with an OIL was significantly higher than that of SU specimens without an OIL. For all three systems, the mean total SFE (γS), polarity force (γSp), and hydrogen bonding force (γSh) values of cured adhesives with an OIL were significantly higher than those of cured adhesives without an OIL. The results of this study indicate that the presence of an OIL promotes higher SBS of a single-step self-etch adhesive system, but not of a three-step or a two-step self-etch primer system. The SFE values of cured adhesives with an OIL were significantly higher than those without an OIL. The SFE characteristics of the OIL of adhesives differed depending on the type of adhesive.

The influence of photoirradiation conditions on dentin bond durability and interfacial characteristics of universal adhesives was investigated. Universal adhesives were applied to the dentin surfaces and photoirradiated with 100 mW/cm for 40 s, 200 mW/cm for 20 s, and 400 mW/cm for 10 s. A resin composite was bonded to dentin to determine shear bond strength after 24 h water storage and 30,000 thermal cycles, and water contact angle of cured adhesive were measured by the sessile drop method. Greater dentin bond strengths after 24 h water storage and 30,000 thermal cycles were achieved under these conditions at light intensity exceeding 200 mW/cm. Universal adhesives photoirradiated above 200 mW/cm exhibited significantly higher water contact angles than those at 100 mW/cm. The results of this study suggested that the photoirradiation conditions affect the dentin bond durability and interfacial characteristics of universal adhesives even at the same total energy.