THE ROLE OF RESIN-BASED RESTORATIONS IN ATHLETE CONFIDENCE AND RECOVERY FOLLOWING SPORTS-RELATED DENTAL TRAUMA

Background: Resin-based composites are widely used in restorative dentistry due to their aesthetic and functional properties. The longevity of these restorations depends heavily on the bond strength and durability of the adhesive systems used. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the performance of three adhesive systems—etch-and-rinse, self-etch, and universal adhesive—in terms of bond strength and durability under simulated oral conditions. Methods: An in vitro experimental design was employed using 90 sound human premolars, randomly divided into three groups (n=30 each). Each group received one of the adhesive systems, followed by resin composite restoration. Specimens underwent thermocycling (5,000 cycles, 5°C–55°C) to simulate aging. Microtensile bond strength (μTBS) testing was conducted, and failure modes were analyzed. Statistical analysis included one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc test. Results: The etch-and-rinse group exhibited the highest mean bond strength (34.75 MPa), significantly outperforming the self-etch (28.10 MPa) and universal adhesive (31.20 MPa) groups (p<0.001) Failure mode analysis revealed that the etch-and-rinse group had the highest proportion of mixed failures (65%), indicating stronger bonding, while the self-etch group showed the most adhesive failures (55%).Conclusion: Etch-and-rinse adhesives demonstrated superior bond strength and durability compared to selfetch and universal adhesives. Universal adhesives, while versatile, showed intermediate performance. Clinicians should consider adhesive type and application techniques to optimize restoration longevity, with etch-and-rinse systems being the preferred choice for high bond strength requirements. Further long-term studies are needed to validate these findings under clinical conditions.