Effects of Different Curing Units and Luting Agents on Push-out Bond Strength of Translucent Posts

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different curing units and 2 luting cements on the push-out bond strength of a translucent fiber post. Methods: Thirty maxillary incisor roots were endodontically treated. Post spaces were prepared, and the smear layers were removed. Posts (FRC Postec Plus) were luted with either a self-etch cement (Panavia F 2.0) or a self-adhesive cement (Maxcem). Luting agents were then light-activated with a quartz-tungsten-halogen, a blue light emitting diode, or a plasma-arc curing unit. Roots/cemented posts were transversally sectioned from coronal to apical. Push-out tests were performed, and data were analyzed by using three-way analysis of variance and Tukey tests. Results: Push-out bond strengths were significantly affected by the type of luting agent (P < .05) and root region (P < .05). The type of light source used in curing did not affect push-out bond strengths (P > .05). Conclusions: Self-adhesive resin cement provided higher bond strength than the self-etch cement when smear layer was removed before the post cementation. The push-out bond strength in the apical portion of the root was significantly lower than in the coronal region. The use of different curing units in the photoirradiation of dual-cured resin cement did not affect the retention of the fiber post as a result of the limited light transmission capability of this post. (J Endod 2010;36:1521-1525)