Glass fiber posts relining: can composite opacity influence retention to root canal dentin?

This study aimed at evaluating the influence of glass-fiber post (GFP) relining with composites of different opacities on resin cement layer thickness (CLT), bond strength (BS) to root dentin, and resin cement degree of conversion (DC%). Standardized roots of 52 bovine incisors had their canals prepared and were distributed into 4 groups (n = 10 for CLT and BS; n = 3 for DC%) according to the post used: WP3 (Control)—Whitepost DC3; groups DE, EN and TR—Whitepost DC0.5 relined, respectively, with dentin, enamel, and translucent shade composites. After cementation, specimens were sectioned into six 1.0 mm-thick discs that were submitted to push-out BS test. CLT and failure pattern were evaluated using a stereomicroscope and DC% by micro-Raman spectroscopy. Data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA and Tukey test (α = 0.05). The control group showed greater CLT than all relined groups (p < 0.05), which did not differ from each other (p > 0.05). Groups relined with low opacity composites (TR; EN) showed the highest BS and DC% means (p < 0.05). BS was not different among root thirds (p > 0.05), while DC% decreased from cervical to apical third (p < 0.05). Adhesive failures between cement and dentin were predominant, except for group DE with frequent mixed failures. It could be concluded that composite opacity did not influence CLT, which was thinner when GFP were relined and that relining GFP with lower opacity composites led to higher BS and DC%.