Effects of Double Application of a Resin Cement Primer and Different Diamond Burs on Cement-Dentin Bond Strength.

To evaluate the effects of double application of resin cement primers to dentin prepared with different diamond burs on the cement-dentin bond strengths. Sixty flat dentin surfaces were prepared and divided into 12 groups (n = 5) according to three experimental factors: 1. resin cements: RelyX Ultimate (RU), Multilink Automix (ML), and Panavia V5 (PV); 2. resin cement primer application: single or double; 3. dentin surface preparation with regular or superfine diamond burs. Cement-dentin sticks (1 mm2) were prepared for and underwent microtensile bond strength testing (µTBS). Statistical analysis was performed using three-way ANOVA and Duncan's test (α = 0.05). Fractured surfaces and cement-dentin interfaces were observed using SEM. Additional teeth were used to observe the demineralization effect of resin cement primers with SEM and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). All tested factors demonstrated significant effects on µTBS (p < 0.001). The combination of PV with superfine-grit bur and double application yielded the highest bond strengths. Surfaces prepared with superfine-grit burs demonstrated higher µTBS than did the regular-grit group, but a significant effect was not observed for all groups. The double application of primer significantly increased the bond strength for most combinations, except for PV with superfine-grit bur-prepared dentin. PV showed higher bond strengths than other resin cements. Double application of primer improved the bond strength of all cements to dentin. Bond strengths were higher when dentin was prepared with a superfine-grit bur.