Effects of three canal sealers on bond strength of a fiber post.

INTRODUCTION: This study evaluated the effects of three different endodontic sealers on the bond strength of a fiber post cemented with adhesive resin cement.

METHODS: Forty-eight extracted maxillary central incisors were prepared with the step-back technique and randomly divided into four groups (n=12 for each group): group 1, control group (gutta-percha points only, no sealer); group 2, resin-based sealer (AH plus; Dentsply De Trey GmbH, Konstanz, Germany); group 3, zinc oxide-eugenol-based sealer (Endofill; Produits Dentaires SA, Vevey, Switzerland); and group 4, calcium hydroxide-based sealer (Sealapex; Kerr, Romulus, MI). The roots were obturated with gutta-percha using the cold lateral compaction technique. Fiber posts were cemented into the prepared post spaces with the adhesive resin cement Panavia F 2.0 (Kuraray Medical, Okayama, Japan). A push-out test was performed in a universal machine, and failure modes were observed. Morphologic changes of the root canal dentin surfaces were examined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

RESULTS: One-way analysis of variance revealed that sealers have significant effects on bond strength (p<0.05). The control group had the highest mean push-out bond strength. No statistical difference was detected between the eugenol-based sealer group and the resin-based sealer group (p>0.05). The root surfaces were covered with the smear layer and debris in all the groups after post space preparation in SEM analysis. However, some of the dentin tubules were partially open in the control and calcium hydroxide-based sealer groups after the application of the resin monomer.

CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that the type of canal sealer and chemomechanical preparation of the root canals affect the bond strength of a fiber post cemented with resin cement.