Although acid etching is routinely used to condition tooth surfaces, it increases the caries susceptibility of enamel and enhances enamel demineralization; thus the role of alternative surface treatments such as alumina air abrasion and erbium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet (Er: YAG) laser irradiation for tooth conditioning is controversial. This study was undertaken to compare the effects of different conditioning methods on the shear bond strength (SBS) of resin cement on enamel and dentin. Prepared permanent human dentin and enamel samples (N = 210) embedded in clear acrylic resin were conditioned by 37% phosphoric acid etching, 50-mu m alumina air abrasion, Er: YAG laser irradiation (120 mJ, 10 Hz, medium short pulse mode), or their combinations. Porcelain laminates were cemented by using photo-polymerizing luting composite. SBS was evaluated after thermal cycling (10,000 cycles, 5-55 degrees C) and fracture types (adhesive, cohesive, or mixed) were observed by stereomicroscopy. Data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance and followed by Tamhane's test (p < 0.05). Enamel and dentin specimens showed significant differences in SBS (p < 0.000). Er: YAG laser etching presents successful alternatives to acid etching on dentin surfaces; it does not enhance adhesion of the resin cement on enamel surfaces.