PURPOSE:The aim of this clinical study was to evaluate the postoperative hypersensitivity of Empress II inlays/onlays luted under clinical conditions with XP BOND in combination with SCA and Calibra cured in self-curing mode.MATERIALS AND METHODS:Fifty-three restorations were placed in 38 patients in March and April 2006. No patient received more than two restorations. Luting procedures were performed following manufacturers' instructions. The restorations were evaluated after 2 weeks and 6 months for postoperative hypersensitivity, marginal discoloration, marginal integrity, secondary caries, maintenance of interproximal contact, and fracture.RESULTS:At the 2-week recall, the postoperative hypersensitivity was reported in only 10 and after 6 months in only 3 patients. All other parameters showed alpha scores.CONCLUSION:All the evaluated restorations were in place and acceptable. The postoperative hypersensitivity recorded after using XP BOND and Calibra in self-curing mode was clinically acceptable.

Purpose To assess the bond strength to dentin of an experimental adhesive and the proprietary resin cement used in different curing modes to lute ceramic disks of different thicknesses. Materials and methods Empress II disks (Ivoclar-Vivadent) were luted to dentin using XP BOND (Dentsply [XP]) in combination with the proprietary self-curing activator (SCA) and cement Calibra (Dentsply [C]). Curing of the adhesive was induced either by mixing with the activator (activator, groups 3 to 6) or by light irradiation for 20 s (group 2). The cement was either light cured for 40 s through the ceramic onlay (groups 1 to 5) or cured chemically (groups 6 and 7). Groups 2 and 4 were compared with group 1, in which Prime & Bond NT (Dentsply DeTrey) was tested as control. In groups 3 and 6, 2-mm-thick onlays were luted with XP+SCA, and the cement was light cured for 40 s or autocured for 5 min, respectively. These groups were compared with group 7, in which Syntac (Ivoclar Vivadent) was applied with C and, in order to reproduce the handling procedures of group 6 (although contrary to manufacturer's instructions), no light irradiation was provided for the adhesive or the cement. The influence of onlay thickness (2, 3, 4 mm) on the bond strength developed by XP+SCA/C was assessed by comparing groups 3, 4, 5. In these groups, C was light cured for 40 s through the onlay. Microtensile beams were obtained from the luted teeth. Results Bond strengths not including pretest failures (in parentheses: value including pretest failures as 0 MPa) were 21.0 (17.5) MPa in group 1, 24.9 (21.2) MPa in group 2, 23.7 (21.3) MPa in group 3, 29.9 (26.7) MPa in group 4, 30.3 (24.6) MPa in group 5, 28.6 (24.6) MPa in group 6, and 17.1 (9.2) MPa in group 7. Statistically significant differences were found between groups 1 and 4, groups 3 and 5, and groups 6 and 7. Conclusion The bonding potential of XP BOND used with the activator or light cured in combination with Calibra in self- or dual-curing mode outperformed that of a control adhesive-cement system. The bond strength of XP+ SCA + Calibra was not negatively affected by the onlay thickness.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of silanization and light-irradiation on bonding between a fiber post and different resin-based luting agents. Sixty silicium fiber posts (Easy Post) were divided into 10 groups according to the type of resin-based luting agent employed, whether the post surface was silanized, whether the adhesive was light-irradiated, and whether Calibra luting agent was used. The micro-tensile bond strength and bonded interface of specimens in each group were evaluated. Specimens luted with Calibra or FluoroCore 2 resin-based luting agent systems were superior to those treated with Multilink or Variolink II, in terms of both bond strength and interfacial integrity. Application of silane, light-irradiation of the adhesive, or light-irradiation of the Calibra resin-based luting agent did not significantly increase the bond strength further. It can be concluded that Calibra or FluoroCore 2 resin-based luting agent systems are more suitable for luting prefabricated Easy Post in a clinical situation, while pre-silanization of the post surface and light-irradiation of XP Bond/SCA adhesive or resin-based luting agent may not be as important as hitherto considered.

Strengthening of Resilon-filled roots via an adhesive interface should be reflected by improvement in the interfacial strength and dislocation resistance between the root fillings and intraradicular dentin. This study compared the interfacial strengths of Resilon/Epiphany and gutta-percha/AH Plus using a thin-slice push-out test design. Failure modes of root slices after push-out testing were examined with environmental scanning electron microscopy. The gutta-percha group exhibited significantly higher interfacial strength than the Resilon group, when premature failures that occurred in Resilon root slices were included in the statistical analysis. The gutta-percha root slices failed exclusively along the gutta-percha/sealer interface. The Resilon root slices failed predominantly along the sealer/dentin interface with recognizable, fractured resin tags. Detachment of the Resilon from the Epiphany sealer was also surprisingly observed in some specimens. The similarly low interfacial strengths achieved with both types of root filling challenges the concept of strengthening root-filled teeth with the new endodontic material.

Objectives. Aim of the study was to measure the adhesion between two types of translucent prefabricated FRC posts (FRC Postec, Ivoclar-Vivadent, FRC; Light-Post, RTD, LP), and two types of flowable composites used as core materials (UnifilFLow, GC, UF; Tetric Flow, Ivoclar-Vivadent, TF), with or without the application of a silane (Monobond-S, Ivoclar-Vivadent, S) on the post surface.Methods. The experimental groups were: 1.1 FRC+UF; 1.2 FRC+S+UF; 1.3 FRC+ TF; 1.4 FRC+S+TF: 2.1 LP+UF; 2.2 LP+S+UF; 2.3 LP+TF; 1.4 LP+S+TF. The bond strength at the interface between post and core was measured with the microtensile non-trimming technique. Thirty to thirty-five beam-shaped specimens per group were obtained from cylinders of core material, which had been built up around the post by progressively adding small increments of composite resin. Each specimen was loaded in tension until failure at either one of the two post-core interfaces present in each stick. The differences in interfacial bond strength among the groups were tested for statistical significance with the two-way ANOVA.Results. The measured bond strengths in MPa were:[GRAPHICS]The statistical analysis revealed that post-silanization had a significant effect on adhesion (p < 0.05). With any combination of post and core materials tested, the application of a silane onto the post surface prior to building up the core significantly increased the post-core bond strength.Significance. For improved adhesion at the interface between prefabricated FRC posts and composite resin cores, post-silanization is advisable. (c) 2004 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Aim of the study was to compare the trimming and non-trimming variants of the microtensile technique with the 'micro' push-out test in the ability to measure accurately the bond strength of fiber posts luted inside root canals. In 15 endodontically treated teeth (Group A), fiber posts were cemented with Excite DSC in combination with Variolink II (Ivoclar-Vivadent). In 15 roots RelyX Unicem (3M-ESPE) was used for fiber post luting (Group B). Within each group, the bond strength of cemented fiber posts was assessed with the trimming and non-trimming microtensile technique, as well as with the push-out test. The great number of premature failures (16.9% in Group A, 27.5% in Group B) and the finding of high standard deviation values make questionable the reliability of the trimming microtensile technique. With the non-trimming microtensile technique, only five sticks were obtained from a total of six roots. The remaining specimens failed prematurely during the cutting phase. With the push-out test no premature failure occurred, the variability of the data distribution was acceptable, and regional differences in bond strength among root levels could be assessed. Relatively low values of bond strength were, in general, recorded for luted fiber posts. In conclusion, when measuring the bond strength of luted fiber posts, the push-out test appears to be more dependable than the microtensile technique.