Shear Bond Strength of Indirect Composites Luted with Three New Self-Adhesive Resin Cements to Dentin

The aim of this study was to evaluate the shear bond strengths of indirect composites (those cured outside the mouth) luted by three different, recently developed, self-adhesive resin cements to dentin. Seventy caries-free mandibular third molar teeth embedded in acrylic resin and with exposed dentin surfaces were used. Teeth were randomly divided into seven groups. The following application protocols were carried out: a) Group 1 (control group)—direct composite resin restoration (Alert) with total-etch adhesive system (Bond 1 primer/adhesive); b) Group 2—indirect composite restoration (Estenia) luted by a resin cement (Cement-It) combined with the same total-etch adhesive; c) Group 3—direct composite resin restoration with self-etch adhesive system (Nano-Bond); d) Group 4—indirect composite restoration luted by the resin cement combined with the same self-etch adhesive; e) Groups 5–7—indirect composite restoration luted with self-adhesive resin cements (RelyX Unicem®, Maxcem®, and Embrace WetBond®, respectively) onto untreated dentin surfaces. Shear bond strengths of the groups were performed with a universal testing device. Results were statistically analysed by student-t and one way ANOVA tests. The fractured surfaces were also examined by SEM. The indirect composite restorations luted with the self-adhesive resin cements (Groups 5–7) showed successful results compared with the other groups (p < 0.05). Group 4 showed the weakest bond strength (p > 0.05). Open dentin tubules were observed on the total-etch adhesive applied surfaces whereas a smear rich layer was found by SEM on the self-etch adhesive applied surfaces. The new universal self-adhesive resins may be considered an alternative for luting the indirect composite restorations onto the untreated dentin surfaces.