Influence of Infected Root Dentin on the Bond Strength of a Self-adhesive Resin Cement.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the bond strength (BS) of a self-adhesive resin cement to the contaminated root dentin.
Materials and Methods: The crown and apical third of twenty single-rooted teeth were removed. The root canals were flared and 1-mm-thick root sections were obtained. The sections were rinsed, dried, and sterilized. The control group (n=20) was composed of one section of each third, which remained immersed in sterile trypticase soy broth (TSB) for 2 months. The other sections comprised the experimental group ( n = 40) and were immersed in a suspension of Enterococcus faecalis . The culture medium was changed at every 4 days for 2 months. The sections were rinsed with distilled water, dried, and the root canal space was filled with the self-adhesive resin cement RelyX™ U200. After 24 h, the push-out test was performed and the types of interface failure were observed on a stereo microscope.
Statistical Analysis: Data were statistically analyzed by the nonparametric Mann-Whitney test (α=5%).
Results: A significant reduction was observed in the BS of resin cement to the contaminated dentin compared to the healthy dentin, for both thirds analyzed ( P < 0.05). The BS was significantly greater at the cervical third compared to the middle third for specimens in the experimental group ( P < 0.05). Adhesive and mixed failures were observed more frequently in specimens contaminated with E. faecalis.
Conclusion: Bacterial contamination negatively infl uenced the BS of the self-adhesive resin cement to the root dentin, and there was a predominance of adhesive and mixed failures.
Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.