Influence of chlorhexidine application at longitudinal push-out bond strength of fiber posts.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of chlorhexidine application after dentin phosphoric acid etching at immediate and long-term bond strength of a fiber post cemented to root dentin. STUDY DESIGN: Seventy-two single-rooted, human upper teeth were selected. After phosphoric acid etching, each group received a different dentin treatment: no pretreatment or chlorhexidine 0.2% or 2.0%. Three-step etch-and-rinse adhesive and dual-cured resin cement was used to cementation procedure. Half of the teeth were submitted to push-out bond strength test after 24 hours and the other half after 6 months. Data were analyzed by 2-way ANOVA and Tukey. RESULTS: Chlorhexidine application had no influence on bond strength when teeth were stored at the same aging time (P > .05). The storage time significantly decreased the bond strength values of 24 hours to 6 months in all groups (P < .05). CONCLUSION: After 6 months, chlorhexidine application did not effectively arrest bond strength degradation of fiber posts cemented in human roots.