RESUMO
PURPOSE: To evaluate and compare the effect of pressure during curing on resin composite bond strength to dentin using a self-etch bonding protocol. METHODS: 20 human teeth were cut to the mid-coronal dentin and received a standardized smear layer. The prepared teeth were randomly assigned to the following two groups (n= 10/group): (1) without pressure during curing (control) or (2) with pressure during curing. Teeth in the control group received a 4 mm-thick buildup of a nanohybrid resin composite in two separately cured increments, adapted using a composite placement instrument, and bonded with a universal adhesive, while teeth in the treatment group were restored with the same adhesive and resin composite but a plexiglass pressure cylinder was used to apply pressure while each increment was cured. Each group was further divided into two subgroups, one of which was sectioned and subjected to microtensile bond strength (µTBS) testing after 24 hours (immediate samples; n= 5), while the other was subjected to 10,000 thermal cycles (TC; n= 5) prior to sectioning and µTBS testing. The resulting failure patterns were assessed under a stereomicroscope. In addition, one representative specimen from each subgroup was subjected to qualitative microscopic morphological analysis of the internal restoration/dentin interface. Data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey' post hoc test and values with P< 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. RESULTS: After TC, the group cured with pressure exhibited significantly higher µTBS values than did the control (P< 0.05), although TC had a detrimental effect on all µTBS values. Microscopic examination revealed that the control specimens had more voids in the resin composite part, relative to specimens that were under pressure during the curing process. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Pressure application during curing of resin composite may have a positive effect on bond strength to dentin.