Effect of ceramic surface treatments on the bond of four resin luting agents to a ceramic material

Abstract

Purpose. This study evaluated the effect of various ceramic surface treatments on the shear bond strengths of four resin luting agents to Cerec 2 ceramic material. Material and methods. Four ceramic surface treatments were performed. All groups were subjected to the control treatment, which was abrasion with No. 600 silicon carbide paper. The other three group treatments were etching with phosphoric acid gel, application of bonding agent containing silane coupler, and application of silane coupling agent after etching with phosphoric acid gel. Cerec 2 ceramic specimens were treated with one of the four methods and then cemented together with each of the four resin luting agents (Super-Bond C&B, Panavia 21, Clapearl, and Vita Cerec Duo Cement). Half of the specimens were stored in water and the other half were thermal cycled before shear bond strength testing. Results. Treatment with the silane coupler improved the shear bond strength compared only with the abrasion with carbide paper (control). When the ceramic material was treated with the silane coupler or the silane coupling agent after etching with phosphoric acid gel, no significant differences in bond strength were noted between water storage and 20,000 thermal cycles for any of the four resin luting agents. After 20,000 thermal cycles, all specimens treated with the silane coupling agent with phosphoric acid gel except those cemented with Super-Bond C&B resin luting agent after etching showed cohesive failures within the ceramic. Conclusion. Combined surface treatment of etching with phosphoric acid and application of silane coupling agent provides the highest bond strengths of resin luting agents to Cerec 2 ceramic material after thermal cycling. (J Prosthet Dent 1998;79:508-13.)