This study evaluated the effects of provisional cements on the shear bond strength (SBS) of permanent
resin cements to dentin. The buccal cusps of extracted human mandibular first premolars (n=144) were sectioned
to expose dentin at 3 mm from the buccal cusp tip. The specimens were first equally divided into four groups
according to the provisional cements used: control (no cementation), zinc oxide eugenol, zinc oxide non-eugenol
and calcium hydroxide. The provisional cement was mixed and applied on the dentin surface with an acrylic rod
placed over with 10 N constant load until the cement was set. The test specimens were stored in distilled water
at 37oC for one week. The acrylic rods were removed and provisional cement remnants were cleaned with spoon
excavator and pumice-water slurry. The specimens were then divided equally into three subgroups for testing
permanent resin cements: self-adhesive, self-etch and total-etch. Permanent resin cement was used to cement a
composite resin stick onto dentin surface. After 24 hours, all specimens were processed to test the shear bond
strength with a universal testing machine. Data were analyzed with two-way ANOVA and Tukey’s test. There was
no interaction between provisional and permanent resin cement groups. The bond strength obtained when using
calcium hydroxide and zinc oxide eugenol provisional cement were similar to no provisional cement contamination.
Zinc oxide non-eugenol provisionalization had a significantly lower shear bond strength than the others. The shear
bond strength of the total-etch cement group was the highest while that of the self-adhesive group was the lowest.
In conclusion, the shear bond strength of three permanent resin cement is not affected when using zinc oxide
eugenol and calcium hydroxide as provisional cements, but is reduced when using zinc oxide non-eugenol cement.