OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the effect of three surface conditioning methods on the microtensile bond strength of resin cement to a glass-infiltrated zirconia-reinforced alumina-based core ceramic. METHODS: Thirty blocks (5 x 5 x 4 mm) of In-Ceram Zirconia ceramics (In-Ceram Zirconia-INC-ZR, VITA) were fabricated according to the manufacturer's instructions and duplicated in resin composite. The specimens were polished and assigned to one of the following three treatment conditions (n=10): (1) Airborne particle abrasion with 110 microm Al(2)O(3) particles + silanization, (2) Silica coating with 110 microm SiO(x) particles (Rocatec Pre and Plus, 3M ESPE) + silanization, (3) Silica coating with 30 microm SiO(x) particles (CoJet, 3M ESPE) + silanization. The ceramic-composite blocks were cemented with the resin cement (Panavia F) and stored at 37 degrees C in distilled water for 7 days prior to bond tests. The blocks were cut under coolant water to produce bar specimens with a bonding area of approximately 0.6mm(2). The bond strength tests were performed in a universal testing machine (cross-head speed: 1mm/min). The mean bond strengths of the specimens of each block were statistically analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey's test (alpha<or=0.05). RESULTS: Silica coating with silanization either using 110 microm SiO(x) or 30 microm SiO(x) particles increased the bond strength of the resin cement (24.6+/-2.7 MPa and 26.7+/-2.4 MPa, respectively) to the zirconia-based ceramic significantly compared to that of airborne particle abrasion with 110-microm Al(2)O(3) (20.5+/-3.8 MPa) (ANOVA, P<0.05). SIGNIFICANCE: Conditioning the INC-ZR ceramic surfaces with silica coating and silanization using either chairside or laboratory devices provided higher bond strengths of the resin cement than with airborne particle abrasion using 110 microm Al(2)O(3).
OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the effect of three surface conditioning methods on the microtensile bond strength of resin cement to a glass-infiltrated zirconia-reinforced alumina-based core ceramic. METHODS: Thirty blocks (5 x 5 x 4 mm) of In-Ceram Zirconia ceramics (In-Ceram Zirconia-INC-ZR, VITA) were fabricated according to the manufacturer's instructions and duplicated in resin composite. The specimens were polished and assigned to one of the following three treatment conditions (n=10): (1) Airborne particle abrasion with 110 microm Al(2)O(3) particles + silanization, (2) Silica coating with 110 microm SiO(x) particles (Rocatec Pre and Plus, 3M ESPE) + silanization, (3) Silica coating with 30 microm SiO(x) particles (CoJet, 3M ESPE) + silanization. The ceramic-composite blocks were cemented with the resin cement (Panavia F) and stored at 37 degrees C in distilled water for 7 days prior to bond tests. The blocks were cut under coolant water to produce bar specimens with a bonding area of approximately 0.6mm(2). The bond strength tests were performed in a universal testing machine (cross-head speed: 1mm/min). The mean bond strengths of the specimens of each block were statistically analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey's test (alpha<or=0.05). RESULTS:Silica coating with silanization either using 110 microm SiO(x) or 30 microm SiO(x) particles increased the bond strength of the resin cement (24.6+/-2.7 MPa and 26.7+/-2.4 MPa, respectively) to the zirconia-based ceramic significantly compared to that of airborne particle abrasion with 110-microm Al(2)O(3) (20.5+/-3.8 MPa) (ANOVA, P<0.05). SIGNIFICANCE: Conditioning the INC-ZR ceramic surfaces with silica coating and silanization using either chairside or laboratory devices provided higher bond strengths of the resin cement than with airborne particle abrasion using 110 microm Al(2)O(3).