João Galan Júnior

Cross-splinting a weakened tooth with a horizontal pin: A new method

This study determined that the attachment of composite to unetched enamel had no significant effect on the bond strength of composite to the same enamel surface after etching. Half of the teeth were prepared (0.5 mm enamel reduction) to simulate the clinical indirect veneer technique, and the others were unprepared. Composite interim restorations were attached (without etching) to half of both groups of teeth. When composite restorations were subsequently attached by acid etching and debonded, there were no significant differences in bond strengths among the four groups. Consequently, the technique of composite attachment to enamel before etching may be used by dentists without fear of affecting the bond strength of composite to that same enamel after etching.