Influence of curcumin photosensitizer in photodynamic therapy on the mechanical properties and push-out bond strength of glass-fiber posts to intraradicular dentin

Abstract Background The effects of using curcumin as photosensitizer on the mechanical properties of intraradicular dentin and on the bond strength of glass-fiber posts are unknown. Thus, this in vitro study evaluated the influence of using curcumin as photosensitizer during photodynamic therapy on the Martens hardness, elastic modulus, and bond strength of glass-fiber posts luted to intraradicular dentin, in different tooth root thirds. Methods Eighty bovine teeth were divided into 5 groups according to the concentration of curcumin applied, with or without blue LED light activation: Control-deionized water; Curcumin 500 mg/L; Curcumin 500 mg/L + blue LED; Curcumin 1000 mg/L; and Curcumin 1000 mg/L + blue LED. Mechanical properties were measured in different thirds of the radicular dentin using an ultramicrohardness tester (n = 8). A universal testing machine was used to evaluate the push-out bond strength (n = 8). Mechanical properties were compared across groups with the Kruskal–Wallis test, and across regions with the Friedman test. Bond strength data were subjected to ANOVA, followed by Tukey’s test (α = 0.05). Scanning electron microscopy was used to analyze the failure mode of the specimens. Results The use of curcumin photosensitizer, with or without blue LED light, improved mechanical properties compared to those of the control group (P   0.05). Overall, there was no difference among the intraradicular thirds for Martens hardness and push-out bond strength values (P > 0.05). Conclusions Curcumin photosensitizer, with or without photodynamic therapy, changed the mechanical properties of intraradicular dentin; however, the Martens hardness and bond strength values did not differ with the depth of the dentin.