Influence of the application of a pre-sintered surface augmentation on zirconia and lithium disilicate bonding using an adhesive composite resin cement.

Objective: The purpose of this laboratory study is to evaluate the application of a pre-sintered surface augmentation to zirconia (Zir) and lithium disilicate (LDS) ceramics on the delamination strength of adhesive resin cement. The applied surface augmentation was the ruling of lines to the pre-sintered surface of the ceramics.

Methods: Ninety milled Zir and sixty pressed LDS specimens (3mm×0.5mm×25mm) were created and divided into five groups (n=30). Group 1: Zir no surface treatment (control Zir-NT); Group 2: Zir airborne particle abraded (Zir-APA) with 30μm CoJet; Group 3: Zir pre-sintered surface augmentation (Zir-SA); Group 4: LDS etched (control LDS-etched) and; Group 5: LDS with pre-sintered surface augmentation and etching (LDS-SA). A resin adhesive cement (3mm×1mm×8mm) was then applied and cured to the ceramic specimens. The delamination strength values of the resin cement from the ceramic were recorded. The delamination strength data were analysed statistically using one-way ANOVA and Turkey post hoc analysis.

Results: The mean delamination strength and standard deviation, when comparing only the Zir-SA to the resin cement were statistically different (p<0.001); Zir-SA 63.42±11.85, Zir-NT 26.82±12.07, and Zir-APA 48.11±17.85MPa. Comparison between LDS groups were not significantly different (p=0.193); LDS-etched 33.49±16.07 and LDS-SA 28.83±10.15MPa. The delaminated Weibull modulus was highest for surface augmentation Zir specimens (m=13.56) but decreasing to less than half for Zir-APA (m=6.27) and Zir-NT (m=5.68). The Weibull values for the LDS-SA and LDS-etched specimens was 5.63 and 3.38 respectively.

Significance: Incorporating the pre-sintered surface augmentation to zirconia improved the delamination strength and reliability of Zir to the resin cement but not for LDS.