Adhesiveness of bulk-fill composite resin in permanent molars submitted to Streptococcus mutans biofilm

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the microtensile bond strength and the microleakage of a bulk-fill composite resin compared with a conventional incremental composite resin, in permanent molars and under cariogenic challenge using a Streptococcus mutans model. Permanent human third molars (n = 60) with an occlusal cavity of 5×3×2 mm were randomly allocated into four subgroups of restorative treatments: conventional composite resin with (n = 15) and without (n = 15) cariogenic challenge (Z350-E and Z350-C experimental and control groups, respectively), and bulk-fill composite resin with (n = 15) and without (n = 15) cariogenic challenge (Bulk Fill-E and Bulk Fill-C, respectively). Ten specimens from each subgroup were submitted to microtensile strength, and 5, to microleakage. The cariogenic challenge was conducted using the Streptococcus mutans strain (ATCC) for 7 days. The stickers obtained (1 × 1 × 2 mm) were submitted to a microtensile strength test, followed by classification of the fracture mode. Microleakage was performed using a scoring system. The data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests (p