This ex vivo study aimed to compare the microtensile bond strength of fiber-reinforced and particulate filler composite to coronal and pulp chamber floor dentin using a self-etching adhesive system. Coronal dentin of 40 human molar teeth was exposed by cutting occlusal enamel with a low-speed saw. Teeth were then randomly divided into two groups (n = 20). The first group was left as is, while in the second group, pulp chamber floor dentin was exposed by trepanation. After placement of a self-etching adhesive system (G-aenial Bond, GC, Tokyo, Japan), groups were further divided into two sub-groups (n = 10) according to the type of composite: fiber-reinforced composite (EP, everX Posterior, GC, Tokyo, Japan) and particulate filler composite (GP, G-aenial Posterior, GC, Tokyo, Japan). Then, composite blocks were built up. Sticks (1.0 × 1.0 mm2) were obtained from each specimen by sectioning, then microtensile bond strength (μTBS) test was performed. Statistical analysis included one-way ANOVA test and Student's t-test (p < 0.05). μTBS values were 22.91 ± 14.66 and 24.44 ± 13.72 MPa on coronal dentin, 14.00 ± 5.83 and 12.10 ± 8.89 MPa on pulp chamber floor dentin for EP and GP, respectively. Coronal dentin yielded significantly higher μTBS than pulp chamber floor dentin (p < 0.05), independently from the tested composites.
Keywords: fiber-reinforced composite; microtensile bond strength test; particulate filler composite.