Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of resin cement shade, types of activation and aging on bond strength (σ) of dentin to feldspathic ceramic. Methods: Forty molars had the dentin surface exposed, etched with 37% phosphoric acid and an adhesive (Excite DSC) was applied. Forty blocks (6 x 6 x 2.5 mm) of feldspathic ceramic (Vita VM7) were produced. The ceramic surface was etched with 10% hydrofluoric acid for 60 s, followed by silane (Monobond) and dual-cured resin cement (Variolink II).Twenty ceramic blocks were cemented to teeth using A3 shade and the other 20 blocks used the transparent shade cement. The blocks from each group were activated using either halogen light or LED for 40 s. All teeth-cement-ceramic blocks were stored in 37°C distilled water for 24 h before cutting into non-trimming specimens (adhesive area= 1 mm²) for microtensile σ test (MTBS). The specimens were randomly divided into 2 groups, according to the storage time: baseline (no aging), and aged (stored in 37°C distilled water for 150 days). Eight experimental groups were obtained (n=30). The specimens were submitted to MTBS testing using a universal test machine (cross-head speed: 1 mm/min). Data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey's test (
a&le0.05). Results: MTBS (MPa) and statistical groupings are shown:
Cement Shade Type of activation Baseline Aged
A3 Halogen 10.8 ± 4.6ab 8.0 ± 6.1bc
A3 LED 9.9 ± 3.9b 4.9 ± 2.1c
Transparent Halogen 14.3 ± 4.9a 6.2 ± 2.9c
Transparent LED 10,5 ± 6,1ab 5.1 ± 3.3c
Conclusions: Aging decreased the σ for all groups. There was no significance difference between activation type and resin cement shades after aging.