Adhesion of glass-ionomer cement sealers to bovine dentin conditioned with intracanal medications

This in vitro study assessed the adherence of glass-ionomer cement (GIC) root canal sealers to dentin conditioned by three endodontic intracanal medications. Three GIC sealers were used: (i) Ketac-Endo; (ii) KT-308, an experimental GIC sealer; and (iii) ZUT, a combination of KT-308 and a silver-containing zeolite (0.2% by weight). Superficial dentin of 120 bovine incisor crowns was used as a substrate. The dentin was irrigated with 2.6% NaOCl for 30 s and then blotted dry. One of the following conditioning media (n = 30) was maintained in contact with the dentin for 7 days: (i) Ca(OH), paste; (ii) chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX) liquid 0.12%; (iii) formocresol (FML) liquid; (iv) distilled water (dH(2)O) used as control. The GIC sealers were applied to the conditioned dentin, bench set for 90 min, stored in 100% humidity at 37 degreesC for 48 h, then tested to failure for shear bond strength (MPa) in an Instron machine. In the ZUT specimens, the shear bond strength did not differ significantly among those conditioned with Ca(OH)(2), CHX, FML, and dH(2)O. For KT-308, the mean scores were significantly lower (p < 0.05) after conditioning with CHX than with dH(2)O. For Ketac-Endo, the mean scores were significantly lower after conditioning with Ca(OH)(2) and FML than with dH(2)O (p < 0.05). Furthermore Ketac-Endo demonstrated significantly lower (p < 0.05) shear bond strength than KT-308 or ZUT to the dentin conditioned with Ca(OH)(2) or FML. The results suggest that intracanal medications differentially influence the adhesion of various GIC sealers to root canal dentin.