Shear Bond Strength of Veneering Ceramic to Zirconia Core After Different Surface Treatments

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different surface treatments: sandblasting, liners, and different laser irradiations on shear bond strength (SBS) of pre-sintered zirconia to veneer ceramic. Background data: The SBS between veneering porcelain and zirconium oxide (ZrO2) substructure was weak. Various surface treatment methods have been suggested for zirconia to obtain high bond strength to veneering porcelain. There is no study that evaluated the bond strength between veneering porcelain and the different surface treatments on pre-sintered ZrO2 substructure. Methods: Two hundred specimens with 7mm diameter and 3mm height pre-sintered zirconia blocks were fabricated. Specimens were randomly divided into 10 groups (n = 20) according to surface treatments applied. Group C, untreated (Control); Group E, erbium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er:YAG) laser irradiated; Group N, neodymium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser irradiated; Group SB, sandblasted; Group L, liner applied; Group NL, Nd:YAG laser irradiated + liner applied; Group EL, Er:YAG laser irradiated + liner applied; Group SN, sandblasted + Nd:YAG laser irradiated; Group SE, sandblasted + Er:YAG laser irradiated; and Group SL, sandblasted + liner applied. The disks were then veneered with veneering porcelain. Before the experiment, specimens were steeped in 37 degrees C distilled water for 24 h. All specimens were thermocycled for 5000 cycles between 5 degrees C and 55 degrees C with a 30 sec dwell time. Shear bond strength test was performed at acrosshead speed of 1 mm/min. The fractured specimens were examined under a stereomicroscope to evaluate the fracture pattern. Results: Surface treatments significantly changing the topography of the yttrium-stabilized tetragonal zirconia (Y-TZP) ceramic according to scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images. The highest mean bond strength value was obtained in Group SE, and the lowest bond strength value was observed in NL group. Bond strength values of the other groups were similar to each other. Conclusions: This study shows that sandblasting + Er:YAG, sandblasting, Er:YAG + liner, sandblasting + Nd:YAG, and Er:YAG laser treatment on pre-sintered ZrO2 substructure increased the bond strength to veneering porcelain, compared with other surface treatments. After different surface treatments, there was no difference in surface roughness of pre-sintered zirconia to compare after sintering; sintering enhanced the bond strength within the limitations of present study.