AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the bond strength between esthetic posts and dentin at different regions of the root canal in passive mode or push-out active mode.
METHODS: Twenty extracted human bicuspid single canal teeth were used in this study. Teeth were sectioned below the cement-enamel junction. The roots of teeth were endodontically treated. Glass fibre posts (Glassix plus, Harald Nordin SA, Switzerland) and zirconia posts (Zirix, Harald Nordin) were then adhesively luted with total-etch (Variolink N, Ivoclar Vivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein) and self-adhesive (Multilink Speed, Ivoclar Vivadent) resin cement. The roots were divided into two main groups of 10 samples each, according to the type of post used. Each group subdivided into 2 subgroups of 5 samples each, according to the type of cement used. The specimens were transversally sectioned into three slices of 2 mm thickness to perform the push-out test. The push-out tests were performed at crosshead-speed, 0.5 mm/min). Failure modes were evaluated using a scanning electron microscope at magnification (x 150).
RESULTS: The results revealed that push-out bond strengths were significantly affected by the type of luting agent and the type of post (P ≤ 0 .05). The mean push-out bond strength values for fibre post were significantly higher than those for zirconia post independent of the luting strategy used. The score values of total-etch adhesive resin cement were higher than those for self-adhesive resin cement irrespective of other variables. Regarding the effect of the root segment on push-out bond strength, results revealed that bond strength decreased from the coronal to the apical section. The cement-dentin interface found to be the weakest part of the root-cement-post unit.
CONCLUSION: Glass fibre posts revealed better results in all root third when they adhesively luted with total-etch or self-etch adhesive resin cement and provided significantly increased bond strength compared to the zirconia posts.