Efficacy of a self-curing adhesive-resin cement system on luting glass-fiber posts into root canals: an SEM investigation

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a new bonding-luting system in resin tag, adhesive lateral branch, and hybrid layer formation when used in combination with an experimental fiber post. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty anterior teeth extracted for periodontal reasons were selected for this study. They were endodontically treated and randomly divided into three groups of 10 samples each: group 1 = Excite light-cured bonding agent in combination with Variolink II resin cement; group 2 = Excite dual-cured bonding agent self-activated by an experimental microbrush in combination with MultiLink resin cement; and group 3 = one-step bonding system in combination with Dual Link resin cement. In groups 1 and 3, the primer-adhesive solution was light cured before placing the resin cement and the post, whereas in group 2 the adhesive/luting materials were not light cured. Twenty FRC Postec translucent posts (groups 1 and 2) and 10 EndoAesthetic translucent fiber posts (group 3) were used. One week later, the root samples were processed for scanning electron microscopic (SEM) observations. RESULTS: Microscopic examinations of restored interfaces from group 2 revealed a resin-dentin interdiffusion zone higher than that seen in samples from groups 1 and 3 (P < .05). At the apical and middle thirds, the samples from group 2 showed significantly more resin tags than the other two groups. CONCLUSION: The dual-cure self-activating system showed a more uniform resin tag and resin-dentin interdiffusion zone formation along root canal walls than light-curing systems.