Improving the Quality of the Quartz Fiber Postcore Bond Using Sodium Ethoxide Etching and Combined Silane/Adhesive Coupling

The influence of different silane/dentin adhesives on the microtensile bond strengths of a hybrid composite to sodium ethoxide-etched quartz fiber posts was investigated. A prehydrolyzed silane was applied without an adhesive and compared to two-component systems in which hydrolysis of the silane occurred after mixing with the acidic monomer present in the dentin adhesives. Nanoleakage along post/core interfaces was examined after silver nitrate tracer penetration using scanning electron microscopy. Higher interfacial strengths and more uniform adaptation between the etched fiber post surface and the composite core were recorded after post treatment with silane/adhesive couplings. The combination of silane with two-step self-etch adhesives improves the chemical retention of composites around etched fiber posts with minimal nanoleakage. Although the one-step self-etching adhesive/silane combination enhances post adhesion, the extensive nanoleakage provides channels for rapid water sorption that may expedite hydrolytic degradation of the post/core interface.