OBJECTIVE:Aim of this in vitro study was to compare self-etch adhesives regarding microtensile bond strength (μ-TBS) to dentin of primary teeth. METHODS:Fifty freshly extracted primary molars were ground to expose caries-free dentin. Specimens were bonded with ten self-etch adhesives (iBond self-etch/Heraeus, Xeno V+/Dentsply, G-Bond, Gaenial Bond/GC, BeautiBond/Shofu, AdheSE One F/Ivoclar Vivadent, Adper Easy Bond/3M ESPE, Clearfil SE Bond/Kuraray, OptiBond XTR/KerrHawe, Prime&Bond NT/Dentsply). After 24-h storage (distilled water, 37°C), resin-dentin beams were cut and 848 resin-dentin sticks were subjected to μ-TBS tests. Fracture analysis was carried out at 40× magnification under a fluorescence microscope and under a SEM. RESULTS:Three adhesives (iBond SE, Clearfil SE Bond, Prime&Bond NT) did not suffer pre-test failures (PTF). AdheSE One F revealed the largest portion of PTF (28%; P < 0.05). Clearfil SE Bond and OptiBond XTR exhibited more cohesive fractures than the other adhesives (77.3% vs 64.8%; P < 0.05). iBond SE, Gaenial Bond, Clearfil SE, and OptiBond XTR achieved μ-TBS of >60 MPa, whereas Xeno V+ and AdheSE One F ranged only at ~20 MPa (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION:Within the limits of this study, the self-etch adhesives under investigation proved different extents of initial μ-TBS to primary dentin with iBond SE, Gaenial Bond, Clearfil SE, and OptiBond XTR having been most successful.