Scoping review: Effect of surface treatments on bond strength of resin composite repair

Objective: to evaluate the existing evidence on surface treatment techniques employed in resin composite repair and their effect on the repair short- and long-term bond strength. Data and source: This scoping review was performed under the PRISMA-ScR guidelines for scoping reviews and registered on the Open Science Framework platform. Study selection: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Scopus and grey literature up to September 2022 without language or date restriction. In vitro studies comparing mechanical surface and/or chemical treatments on repair bond strength of resin composite were included. Studies evaluating experimental adhesive systems or resin composites were excluded. Selection of studies and data extraction were performed. Data from selected studies was qualitatively analyzed. Results: A total of 76 studies were included in the qualitative analysis. Among the mechanical treatments, alumina blasting was the most frequently used, followed by silica coating and diamond bur. As for chemical treatments, dentin bonding systems were the most frequently evaluated, followed by universal adhesive systems and silane/ceramic primer. The combination of mechanical and chemical pre-treatments increased the repair bond strength of resin composite in both short- and long-term simulated aging scenarios. The evidence obtained from the included studies was classified as moderate quality, mainly due to the medium risk of bias observed across most of the studies. Conclusion: The techniques used to treat the surface of resin composites for repair are diverse. Incorporating a combination of mechanical and chemical pre-treatments resulted in superior repair bond strength of resin composite materials under both short- and long-term simulated aging conditions. Clinical Significance: The analysis of evidence revealed significant variability among protocols for repairing resin composites. Utilizing both mechanical and chemical pre-treatment methods is important for enhancing the bond strength of resin composites during both short- and long-term simulated aging situations.