Effectiveness of the bond established between ceramic inlays and dentin using different luting protocols

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Biomaterials Engineering
• Adhesive Dentistry

Background:

• Achieving durable ceramic-to-dentin bonds is crucial for the longevity of dental restorations.
• Various luting composites and adhesive techniques exist, each with potential impacts on bond strength and interface integrity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the microtensile bond strength between ceramic and dentin using different light- and dual-curing resin composites.
• To assess the influence of adhesive pre-curing and ceramic thickness on bond durability.

Main Methods:

• 160 human molars were bonded with Vita Mark II ceramic disks (2-4 mm thick) using four luting systems (Syntac/Tetric Ceram, Syntac/Variolink II, OptiBond Solo Plus/Prodigy, OptiBond Solo Plus/Nexus 2).
• Adhesive layers were either pre-cured or not, and irradiation times varied.
• Microtensile bond strength was tested, and failure modes were analyzed using SEM.

Main Results:

• Ceramic thickness, luting system, and adhesive pre-curing significantly affected bond strength (ANOVA).
• Longer irradiation times did not significantly increase bond strength.
• The Syntac/Variolink II with pre-curing (+PC) yielded the highest bond strength (27.9 ± 4.3 MPa), while Syntac/Tetric Ceram without pre-curing (-PC) showed the lowest (10.2 ± 3.5 MPa).
• SEM analysis revealed more exposed dentin in non-pre-cured specimens.

Conclusions:

• Pre-curing adhesive layers is vital for optimizing dentin bond strength.
• Dual-curing luting composites enhance bond durability, particularly under thicker ceramic restorations.
• These techniques contribute to improved interface integrity and potentially better clinical outcomes.