The purpose of this study was to investigate the tensile bond strength of composite inlays to human dentin with two different cavity preparation tools (bur versus Er, Cr: YSGG laser) and with two different bonding procedures (total-etch: Variolink II versus self-etch: Maxcem). The specimens were divided into four groups: bur-cut/Variolink II, bur-cut/Maxcem, laser-ablated/Variolink II, and laser-ablated/Maxcem. The following characteristics were then investigated: morphological change, dentin-resin cement interface, surface roughness, and tensile bond strength. Results demonstrated that the tensile bond strengths of the four groups were 19.11 +/- 5.88 MPa, 8.54 +/- 2.38 MPa, 13.72 +/- 3.43 MPa, and 12.11 +/- 3.71 MPa, respectively. We concluded that Variolink II provided higher tensile bond strength to composite inlays than Maxcem. On the other hand, the bond strength of Variolink II with dentin cavity prepared by Er, Cr: YSGG laser was statistically lower than that prepared by bur.