Adhesive Bonding to Hydraulic Gel-Forming Calcium Silicate-Based Cements: Effects of Cement Type, Adhesive Strategy, and Restoration Timing

Calcium silicate-based cements are hydraulic biomaterials that form a calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) gel during hydration, a process fundamental to their setting and progressive physicochemical development. Although these materials are widely used in vital pulp therapy, evidence regarding the effects of adhesive strategy and restoration timing on bonding performance, particularly for newer premixed formulations, remains limited. This study evaluated the effects of cement type, adhesive strategy, and restoration timing on the shear bond strength (SBS) of resin composite bonded to MTA Angelus and Well-Root PT. A total of 270 specimens were distributed across two cement types, three adhesive strategies, and three restoration intervals (45 min, 24 h, and 7 days). After thermocycling, SBS and failure modes were assessed. SBS data were analyzed using three-way ANOVA, whereas failure-mode distributions were evaluated using chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests (α = 0.05). Cement type, adhesive strategy, restoration timing, and their interactions significantly influenced SBS (p < 0.001). Well-Root PT exhibited higher early bond strength than MTA Angelus. The two-step etch-and-rinse adhesive produced the highest SBS values, whereas the universal adhesive produced the lowest. Restoration after 24 h significantly increased SBS compared with restoration after 45 min, with no additional improvement observed at 7 days. Within the limitations of this in vitro study, bonding performance was influenced by cement type, adhesive strategy, and restoration timing. The time-dependent increase in SBS is consistent with continued hydration and development of the C-S-H gel-based cement matrix, although the specific microstructural changes underlying this behavior were not directly characterized.