Recent studies have shown that ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) inactivates endogenous dentin proteases, thereby preventing collagen degradation and improving the durability of adhesive bonds to dentin. Bond durability is routinely assessed by monotonic microtensile testing, which does not consider the cyclic nature of mastication.

To characterize the effect of an EDC pretreatment on the fatigue crack growth behavior of resin-dentin bonds.

Bonded interface Compact Tension (CT) specimens were prepared using a three-step etch-and-rinse adhesive and hybrid resin-composite. Adhesive bonding of the treated groups included a 1min application of an experimental EDC conditioner to the acid-etched dentin. The control groups did not receive EDC treatment. The fatigue crack growth resistance was examined after storage in artificial saliva for 0, 3 and 6 months.

There was no significant difference in the immediate fatigue crack growth resistance of the EDC-treated and control groups at 0 months. However, after the 3 and 6 months storage periods the EDC-treated groups exhibited significantly greater (p≤0.05) fatigue crack growth resistance than the control specimens.

Although the EDC treatment maintained the fatigue crack growth resistance of the dentin bonds through 6 months of storage, additional studies are needed to assess its effectiveness over longer periods and in relation to other cross-linking agents.