RESUMO
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Whether ultrasonic activation of the adhesive system improves dentin tubule penetration and the bond strength of fiber posts to root dentin is unclear. PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of ultrasonic activation of 2 adhesive systems (etch-and-rinse and self-etch) and 1 glass ionomer cement on the dentin tubule penetration and pushout bond strength of fiber posts to root dentin. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty maxillary central incisors were endodontically treated and divided into 6 groups (n=10) as per the post cementation strategy: etch-and-rinse, etch-and-rinse and ultrasonic, self-etch, self-etch and ultrasonic, glass ionomer cement, and glass ionomer cement and ultrasonic. The primers, the adhesives, and the glass ionomer cement were activated for 20 seconds each, and the fiber posts were cemented with a resin cement. Dentin tubule penetration was evaluated by confocal laser scanning microscopy and the pushout bond strength measured at 3 post locations: cervical, middle, and apical. The failure patterns were also described after pushout testing. RESULTS: Self-etch and ultrasonic showed higher dentin tubule penetration than the other cementation strategies (P<.05) and improved the bond strength values (P<.05), which were higher than etch-and-rinse and ultrasonic and glass ionomer cement and ultrasonic (P<.05). Adhesive failures at the cement and dentin interface were predominant in the etch-and-rinse, self-etch, and self-etch and ultrasonic groups. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasonic activation improved the dentin tubule penetration of a self-etch adhesive system. The bond strength of fiber posts cemented with a self-etch adhesive system and a resin cement was improved after ultrasonic activation.