The surface effects of erosion and abrasion on dentine with and without a protective layer

Objective The aim of this in situ study was to investigate with four imaging modalities whether covering dentine with adhesive resins could protect against erosion from acids. The objectives were to observe and quantify the effects of acids and the soft tissues, especially the tongue, on dentine and the bonding agents using four assessment techniques: qualitative assessment with SEM, surface roughness and thickness of resin with the TSM and volume loss with the laser profilometer. Design An in situ investigation using extracted dentine sections embedded in splints held on the palate of 10 volunteers. The dentine sections were protected by two resins and subjected to a tooth wear regime. Results Both Seal and Protect and Opitbond Solo protected the tooth surfaces from a tooth wear regime. There were no statistical differences between the control surfaces and those protected with dentine bonding agents for resin thickness, roughness and profilometry. The appearance of the slabs under both confocal and SEM showed that the material remained in place despite a vigorous wear regime and therefore protected the tooth surface. Conclusions For patients with uncontrolled erosion or tooth wear, applying a dentine bonding agent to exposed dentine is a practical option to prevent further damage.