Effects of desensitizing treatments on acid-etched dentin: debris precipitation, bond strength and tag formation

To evaluate the effects of formulations containing potassium nitrate, silicate, and calcium phosphate, subjected to an acid challenge, on debris precipitation, quantification of exposed dentinal tubules, bond strength, failure mode, and tag formation. One hundred and twenty bovine incisors were randomly allocated into four groups: Desensibilize NanoP, Desensibilize KF 2%, Regenerate NR-5, and a control group. Specimens were immersed daily for 5 min in orange juice (pH 3.80 ± 0.04) and then rinsed with distilled water. Forty teeth were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy to assess debris precipitation and tubular occlusion. Another forty were subjected to micro-shear bond strength testing, and the remaining forty were analyzed under optical microscopy for tag formation. Data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis/Dunn test (debris precipitation) and ANOVA/Tukey test (open tubules, bond strength, and tag formation), with a significance level of α = 0.05. The Regenerate group showed significantly higher debris precipitation, fewer open dentinal tubules, greater bond strength, and a higher incidence of cohesive failures. Tag formation was similar across all groups. The Regenerate protocol demonstrated superior performance in debris precipitation, tubule occlusion, bond strength, and tag formation, particularly when used in combination with a universal adhesive.