Bond strength to dentin of a Polymer-infiltrate ceramic-network material cemented with dual resin cements submitted to different adhesive strategies

The purpose of the present in vitro study is to assess the immediate and long-term bond strength of a self-adhesive and conventional resin luting agents with a new hybrid restorative material to dentin. Blocks of a polymer-infiltrated ceramic-network (PICN) material (VITA Enamic) were cemented to a flat exposed dentin surface through different protocols. The groups were divided considering the combination of resin luting agent and ceramic surface treatment (U200 – Relyx U200 with silane; Ult + Sil – Relyx Ultimate with silane; Ult + SBU – Relyx Ultimate with Scotchbond Universal) and dentin treatment (NT – no dentin treatment; ER – etch-and-rinse with 35 % phosphoric acid) (n = 6). Beam-shaped specimens were obtained by cutting the cemented restorations. Specimens were submitted to microtensile bond strength in a universal testing machine (EMIC). Half of the specimens were tested 24 h after cementation, and the other half were tested after 12 months of water storage. ANOVA revealed one significant interaction between “time” and “dentin treatment” factors, as ER strategy was associated with bond strength decreases after 12 months. All resin luting agents (u200, Ult + Sil, and Ult + SBU) presented higher immediate μTBS with ER adhesive strategy. As the groups Ult + Sil, with both ER and SE adhesive strategies, and (Ult + SBU), with ER adhesive strategy, showed higher μ TBS values after 12 months. It was concluded that conventional dual resin cement, combined with ER strategy produced better bond strength to dentin when cementing indirect PICN restoration.