OBJECTIVE To explore the potential to modify human dentin surface as a means of improving the microtensile bond strength (μTBS) of resin cement to dentin. METHODS Sound human molars were collected, and their occlusal surfaces were ground flat to expose polished dentin. Indirect composite resin cylinders were cemented to the teeth with RelyX Unicem or G-Cem self-adhesive cements following dentin surface treatments: 6.5% grape-seed extract, 5% glutaraldehyde, or 25% polyacrylic acid and control (no pretreatment). After 24 hours, the teeth were sectioned into beams to produce a cross-sectional area of 1.0 mm(2). Specimens of each group (n = 25) were individually mounted on a jig and placed on a tensile testing machine. A tensile force was applied to failure at a 1 mm/min crosshead speed. RESULTS The use of polyacrylic acid on dentin prior to cementation with RelyX Unicem resulted in a statistically significant increase in μTBS compared to the control group (p= 0.0282). Polyacrylic acid (p= 0.0016) or glutaraldehyde (p= 0.0043) resulted in a statistically significant increase in μTBS of G-Cem to dentin when compared to the control group. Treatment with grape-seed extract did not result in a statistically significant increase in μTBS for either cement (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Priming dentin surfaces prior to the use of self-adhesive resin cements may be a promising means of improving μTBS. In addition, it was concluded that the results of this study are material dependent as well as being dependent of the type of dentin primer.