Background: Reattachment of the fractured fragment is an efficient, quick and cheap treatment option for noncomplicated crown fractures.
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the variation of adhesive strenght of reattached tooth fragments in two instances: first when the dentin surface was dried out and second when, after being dried out, the surface was rewetted.
Methods: One-hundred sixty-nine extracted lower incisors were fractured and divided in two groups. In the first group, before being fractured again, the teeth were dried for different periods of time. In the second group, after being dried for 24 hours the teeth were stored in water for different periods of time and then fractured again. In all groups, the energy needed to fracture the teeth was measured and compared with the energy needed to fracture the intact teeth.
Results: After 3 hours of dehydration the resistance to fracture decreased significantly. Fragments that were rehydrated for 6 hours after 24 hours of dehydration showed an increase in fracture resistance.
Conclusions: Fractured tooth fragments that are to be reattached should be stored in water or, if already dried should be rehydrated.