• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.392-401
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the penetration pattern of dentin adhesives according to the orientation of dentinal tubules with confocal laser scanning microscopy. Specimens having perpendicular. parallel and oblique surface to dentinal tubules were fabricated. The primer of dentin adhesives (ALL $BOND^{\circledR}{\;}2,{\;}CLEARFIL^{TM}$ SE BOND and PQ1) was mixed with fluorescent material. rhodamine B isothio-cyanate (Aldrich Cherm. CO., Milw., USA), It was applied to the specimens according to the instructions of manufactures. The specimens were covered with composite resin (Estelite, shade A2) and then cut to a thickness of 500$\mu\textrm{m}$ with low speed saw (Isomet^{TM}, Buehler. USA). The adhesive pattern of dentin adhesives were observed by fluorescence image using confocal laser scanning microscopy. The results were as follows. 1. For the groups with tubules perpendicular to bonded surface. funnel shape of resin tag was observed in all specimen. However. resin tags were more prominent in phosphoric acid etching system (ALL $BOND^{\circledR}$ 2 and PQ1) than self etching system ($CLEARFIL^{TM}$ SE BOND). 2. For the groups with tubules parallel to bonded surface. rhodamine-labeled primer penetrated into peritubular dentin parallel to the orientation of dentinal tubules. But rhodamine-labeled primer of PQ1 diffused more radially into surrounding intertubular dentin than other dentin adhesive systems. 3. For the groups with tubules oblique to bonded surface. resin tags appeared irregular and discontinuous. But they penetrated deeper into dentinal tubules than other groups.