Bonding abutments to cast metal post/cores: comparison of pre-treatment effects

Bond strengths were evaluated for (1) metal primer systems when the metal was contaminated by a dentin conditioner and (2) a dentin adhesive system when dentin was contaminated by metal primers. Disc specimens were cast in a silver-palladium-copper-gold (Ag-Pd-Cu-Au) alloy and dentin specimens were prepared by grinding the labial surface of bovine teeth. Specimens were treated with (1) metal primer alone, (2) dentin conditioner alone, (3) metal primer followed by dentin conditioner and (4) dentin conditioner followed by metal primer. A resin cement was poured into a mould over a restricted bonding area and allowed to set. Metal specimens were shear stressed to failure after thermocycling (4-60 degrees C; 20,000 cycles). Dentin specimens were stressed in the same manner after 24 h of immersion in 37 degrees C water. The results were compiled and analysed by anova. Data for dentin specimens treated with dentin conditioner only or with the combination of dentin conditioner and metal primer were not significantly different, statistically. Post-thermocycled groups indicated that bond strengths to the alloy significantly decreased (P < 0.05) when the primed metal surface was contaminated with dentin conditioner regardless of the timing of its application.