Coarse Diamond Bur Research Articles

Cutting efficiency of different dental diamond rotary instruments for sectioning monolithic zirconia and lithium disilicate crowns

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to determine the cutting efficiency of different diamond rotary instrument types for sectioning monolithic zirconia and lithium disilicate anatomical crowns.Materials and methodsThe study used 30 diamond rotary instruments divided into three groups: Zirconia cutting diamond bur (White Z), super coarse grit diamond bur (KBlack), and medium coarse grit diamond bur (KBlue); Two subgroups were assigned based on the crown materials including monolithic zirconia (5YSZ) and lithium disilicate (e.max) ceramics. The cutting efficiency was assessed by measuring the time required to fully section the crowns, followed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) of the dental burs before use and after every sectioned crown. A three-way ANOVA examined the effects of bur type, material type, and sectioning stage. If interaction exists, one-way ANOVA was used to compare the different subgroups, followed by the Tukey post hoc test. The significance level was assigned at α ≤ 0.05.ResultsThe results exhibited various cutting efficiencies among diamond rotary instruments and ceramic crown materials. White Z demonstrated superior cutting efficiency of zirconia crown compared with KBlack and KBlue for the first cutting cycles (p ≤ 0.05); the results tend to be more comparable at the third cutting cycle. However, the super coarse diamond bur exhibited higher efficiency in cutting lithium disilicate crowns than white Z and KBlue burs through all three cutting cycles(p ≤ 0.05). The diamond bur-cutting efficiency diminished after each use, irrespective of the bur type or the crown material (p ≤ 0.05); this was represented by the reduction of carbon and increased nickel matrix ratio after each bur usage.ConclusionWhite Z diamond bur showed higher cutting efficiency of zirconia in the first two cutting cycles; super coarse diamond bur is more efficient for cutting lithium disilicate crown in all of the cutting cycles. The amount of diamond on the burs reduced after each use, with no great impact on the material type when sectioning lithium disilicate and 5YSZ crowns.Clinical significanceThis study provides valuable insights for dental practitioners in selecting the appropriate diamond rotary instrument for crown sectioning. Practitioners can minimize the risk of damage and reduce the time required for crown removal, improving patient outcomes.

Assessment of Diamond Rotary Instruments Advertised for Cutting 3Y-TZP Restorations. A Scanning Electron Microscope Analysis

Aim: To examine the cutting efficiency and amount of material removed from crown-cutting diamond burs from a different manufacturer on zirconia using an electric handpiece. Material and Methods: The performance of super coarse diamond bur round-end from five different manufacturers that were commercially advertised as zirconium crown cutters were assessed. The five manufacturers and their respective diamond bur models tested were super coarse Group 1: Dimond bur, Group 2: Zirconia Diamond Bur, Round End Cylinder, Meisinger, Group 3: 4ZR Zirconia Cutter Diamond Crown Removal Bur, Group 4: Brasseler Dental Diamond Bur, Group 5: Expanded SS White® Lineup of Zirconia Cutting Diamonds. The qualitative assessment of diamond burs (before zirconia cutting) and (after zirconia cutting) was assessed using a scanning electron microscope. The mean cutting distance and material removed for each group were calculated and analyzed using one-way ANOVA. Results: The highest cutting efficiency was found in group 2 and the lowest efficiency was observed in group 5. Post-SEM images of rotary zirconia cutting instruments in groups (Post G1-G5) demonstrate pullout, wear, chipping, and loss of the diamond grains in general. Conclusion: Zirconia Diamond Bur (G2) was found to be suitable. Whereas, (G5) Expanded SS White® Lineup of Zirconia Cutting Great White®Z Diamonds is less effective.

Delayed light activation of resin composite affects the bond strength of adhesives under dynamic simulated pulpal pressure.

To evaluate the effect of a time delay before the light activation of resin composite on the microtensile bond strength (µTBS) of self-etch adhesives under dynamic simulated pulpal pressure. One hundred twenty crown segments were prepared from human third molars. Dentin surfaces were prepared with coarse diamond burs and connected to a dynamic pulpal pressure device. The self-etch adhesives used were Clearfil SE Bond (CSE), G2-Bond Universal (G2B), Clearfil Universal Bond Quick (CBQ), and G-Premio Bond (GPB). Each adhesive was divided into 3 subgroups: immediate light activation of resin composite (T0), delayed light activation for 150s (T1), and 300s (T2). The µTBS data were obtained after 24-h water storage. Scanning electron microscopy was used to evaluate the nanoleakage at the resin-dentin surface. The µTBS data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA and Duncan's multiple comparisons. All adhesives demonstrated a significant reduction in µTBS at T2, except for CBQ where the bond strength was not affected by the delayed light activation times. The two-step self-etch adhesives (CSE and G2B) demonstrated higher bond strength than the one-step adhesives at all conditions. Nanoleakage was observed in all adhesives at T2; however, nanoleakage was detected only in CBQ and GPB at T1. Delayed light activation of resin composite adversely affected the dentin bond strength of self-etch adhesives. Two-step self-etch adhesives had better bonding performance than one-step self-etch adhesives. After adhesive application, resin composite should be adapted and cured as soon as possible.

Effect of Clinically Relevant Smear Layers and pH of Universal Adhesives on Dentin Bond Strength and Durability.

To evaluate the effects of different smear layers on the microtensile bond strength (µTBS) of a reference two-step self-etch adhesive and two universal adhesives. Mid-coronal dentin of 90 teeth was exposed and divided into three bur groups (coarse diamond, fine diamond, or tungsten carbide). Each bur-prepared group was further divided into three adhesive groups: Clearfil SE Bond (SE, Kuraray Noritake), Single Bond Universal (SB; 3M Oral Care), and G-Premio Bond (GP, GC). After adhesive application, 4-mm-thick resin composites were built up. Half of the teeth in each bur-adhesive group were used in immediate µTBS testing, and the others were tested after thermal aging (n = 5). Rectangular sticks were prepared using a low-speed diamond saw. For each tooth, 6 central sticks were used in the µTBS test. Statistical analysis was performed using three-way ANOVA and Bonferroni tests (α = 0.05). SE presented higher µTBS than universal adhesives and SB presented higher µTBS than GP regardless of dentin surface preparation and thermal aging (p ˂ 0.05). For SE and SB, the tungsten carbide bur demonstrated higher immediate and aged µTBS than did the extra-fine diamond bur (p ˂ 0.05). The immediate µTBS was similar for GP with all bur types (p ˃ 0.05); the tungsten carbide and extra-fine diamond burs presented higher µTBS than did the coarse-diamond bur after thermal aging (p ˂ 0.05). Dentin surface preparation and adhesive type had significant effects on µTBS. The smear layer created with an extra-fine diamond or tungsten carbide bur is favorable when mild and ultra-mild self-etch adhesives are used.

The Effect of Different Surface Conditioning Techniques on the Bonding between Resin Cement & Ceramic

Surface etching before cementation is a vital step that determines the clinical performance of ceramic restorations. Etching alters surface topography that contributes effective bonding between ceramic restoration and resin cement. This study aimed to compare etching techniques to determine the most effective etching method contributing the highest bond strength that helps in improving dental implants. Materials and methods: sixty discs of feldspathic ceramic measuring 10 mm diameter and 4 mm thickness were prepared. The 60 samples were divided into four equal groups based on the surface treatment technique used: group A: 9.6% hydrofluoric acid; group B: coarse diamond burs; group C: CO2 laser; and group D: no treatment. Ceramic disc specimens were examined under a Scanning Electron microscope (SEM) after surface treatment to characterize their surface morphology. Further, the specimens were luted with a resin luting agent and incubated for 24 h at a temperature of 37 °C simulating the oral environment. After 24 h, shear bond strength (SBS) and the nature of bond failure was determined for each specimen using a universal Instron testing machine. Results: significant change in surface morphology was noticed on hydrofluoric acid treatment forming larger irregular roughness (4.83 ± 1.78 µm) with multiple patterns of grooves and pores compared to other groups. Further, the highest SBS value was measured on hydrofluoric acid etching that display the highest bond strength due to the high surface roughness. In conclusion, our findings report a strong association between the surface roughness and bond strength upon hydrofluoric acid compared to other methods. Further work in this direction will enhance the utility of the etching technique on the improvement of dental implants.

Effects of dentin surface preparations on bonding of self-etching adhesives under simulated pulpal pressure.

ObjectivesThis study evaluated the effects of different smear layer preparations on the dentin permeability and microtensile bond strength (µTBS) of 2 self-etching adhesives (Clearfil SE Bond [CSE] and Clearfil Tri-S Bond Universal [CTS]) under dynamic pulpal pressure.Materials and MethodsHuman third molars were cut into crown segments. The dentin surfaces were prepared using 4 armamentaria: 600-grit SiC paper, coarse diamond burs, superfine diamond burs, and carbide burs. The pulp chamber of each crown segment was connected to a dynamic intra-pulpal pressure simulation apparatus, and the permeability test was done under a pressure of 15 cmH2O. The relative permeability (%P) was evaluated on the smear layer-covered and bonded dentin surfaces. The teeth were bonded to either of the adhesives under pulpal pressure simulation, and cut into sticks after 24 hours water storage for the µTBS test. The resin-dentin interface and nanoleakage observations were performed using a scanning electron microscope. Statistical comparisons were done using analysis of variance and post hoc tests.ResultsOnly the method of surface preparation had a significant effect on permeability (p < 0.05). The smear layers created by the carbide and superfine diamond burs yielded the lowest permeability. CSE demonstrated a higher µTBS, with these values in the superfine diamond and carbide bur groups being the highest. Microscopic evaluation of the resin-dentin interface revealed nanoleakage in the coarse diamond bur and SiC paper groups for both adhesives.ConclusionsSuperfine diamond and carbide burs can be recommended for dentin preparation with the use of 2-step CSE.

44 - Time-Lapse for Cutting Different Zirconia Thicknesses for Removal Purposes

To determine time and heat produced during cutting off through yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) ceramic slices of varying thicknesses. Four groups (6 samples per group) of 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 mm YSZ sintered slices (e.max ZirCAD, Ivoclar Vivadent) were cut off completely using coarse diamond burs on a high-speed handpiece under irrigation. A type K thermocouple was placed under the YSZ slice during the cutting-off procedure, lined up with the position of the diamond bur so that the temperature could be accurately recorded. Each sample was held in place in a customized device. Cutting off total time, base temperature, and final maximum temperature during the cutting process was recorded for each group sample. Interaction effects, temperature, and cut-off time were analyzed using one-way ANOVA. Data is shown in the Figure. There was no significant difference in temperature among the different YSZ thicknesses during the cutting-off process. However, there was a significant difference in time (p < 0.001). The thickest samples took around 120 min to slice through fully. Thicker YSZ restorations take a longer time to cut through than thinner YSZ restorations; however, regardless of the time spent during the cutting-off process, the temperature through the ceramic remains similar. Time plays an important role in clinical practice, therefore is important to reconsider if rotary mechanical instrumentation is the best route clinician could take to remove high-strength ceramic structures.

Influence of surface treatment of resin composite substrate on the load-bearing capacity under fatigue of lithium disilicate monolithic simplified restorations

This study evaluated the influence of surface treatments of resin composite substrate on the fatigue behavior of adhesively cemented lithium disilicate glass-ceramic simplified restorations. CAD/CAM lithium disilicate ceramic blocks were shaped into discs (N = 60, Ø = 10 mm; thickness = 1.0 mm). Resin composite discs (N = 60, Ø = 10 mm, thickness = 2 mm) were allocated into four groups considering the “surface treatment” factor: Ctrl – no surface treatment; Bur – grinding with coarse diamond bur (#3101G, KG Sorensen); PA – etching with 37% phosphoric acid (15 s); AA – air abrasion with alumina particles (45 μm, 10 mm distance, 2.8 bars, 10 s). The surface topography, the roughness, the fractal dimension (estimated by the box-counting method) and the contact angle analyses were performed after the surface treatments. The lithium disilicate discs were etched (5% hydrofluoric acid, 20 s), silanized and adhesively cemented (Multilink N, Ivoclar Vivadent) on the resin composite discs. The samples (bonded restoration set) were subjected to a step-stress fatigue test at 20 Hz, 10,000 cycles/step with a step-size of 100 N applied on the ceramic surface, having ceramic up and resin composite down. Fractographic analysis was performed. The fatigue data (Fatigue Failure Load – FFL; and Cycles for Failure – CFF) were analyzed by Kaplan Meier with Mantel-Cox log-rank post-hoc tests (α = 0.05). No statistical difference for fatigue performance could be found among the groups (FFL means: 820–867 N; CFF means: 53,195–61,090 cycles). The bur group showed higher surface roughness and contact angle values. The PA group has the highest average fractal dimension. Therefore, the resin composite surface treatment induces topographical changes, however, it has no effect on the fatigue behavior of lithium disilicate restorations.

Step-stress vs. staircase fatigue tests to evaluate the effect of intaglio adjustment on the fatigue behavior of simplified lithium disilicate glass-ceramic restorations

The aim of the study was to compare the outcomes for the fatigue mechanical behavior of bonded simplified lithium disilicate restorations, with and without an internal adjustment by grinding with diamond bur in running two fatigue tests: Staircase and Step-stress testing approaches. Ceramic discs (IPS e.max CAD) were prepared (Ø = 10 mm; thickness = 1.0 mm), submitted to an in-lab simulation of CAD/CAM milling (#60 SiC paper) and allocated into 2 groups according to the internal adjustment by grinding of the cementation surface: no adjustment (CTRL); or grinding with a coarse diamond bur (GR). Adhesive cementation (Multilink N) was performed onto epoxy resin discs (Ø = 10 mm; thickness = 2 mm) after ceramic/epoxy surface treatments. The cemented assemblies of each group were randomly assigned into 2 subgroups considering two fatigue tests (n = 15): Staircase – SC (250,000 cycles; 20 Hz), or Step-stress – SS (10,000 cycles per step; 20 Hz). Roughness, topographic and fractographic analyses were additionally performed. Statistical analyses were carried out using the Dixon and Mood method for Staircase data, and Kaplan–Meier and Mantel-Cox (log-rank) tests for Step-stress data. Ceramic restorations having its intaglio surface ground (GR group: SC test = 306.67 N; SS test = 646.67 N) presented lower fatigue failure load (FFL) values than the CTRL group (SC test = 879.28 N; SS test = 1090.00 N), regardless of the fatigue testing approach. The percentage of mean FFL decrease comparing the CTRL to GR group was higher for SC (65.1%) than the SS (40.7%) approach. However, a different total number of cycles was applied for each method. Both fatigue tests were able to detect the negative effect of internal adjustments of lithium disilicate glass-ceramic simplified restorations on their mechanical behavior. Therefore, both methods can be applied for similar evaluations (fatigue testing for ceramic restorations).

Shear Bond Strength of Different Adhesive Systems in Amalgam Repair

The purpose was to evaluate the effect of different adhesive systems on shear-bond-strength between amalgam and resin composite. 48 amalgam specimens were condensed into plastic tubes (4 mm diameter × 5 mm height). The specimens were kept in incubator for 24 h at 37°C, aged by thermal cycling 1000 times between 5–55°C. The specimens’ surfaces were finished with coarse diamond burs and randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 12) with respect to different surface conditioning methods: etchant+universal adhesive (All-Bond Universal, Bisco), universal adhesive, alloy primer (Z-Prime, Bisco)+universal adhesive, self-adhesive resin cement (BisCem, Bisco). The old amalgam specimens were placed into plastic tubes (4 mm diameter × 8 mm height) and all adhesive systems were used according to manufacturer’s instructions. Resin composite (Charisma Classic, Haraeus Kulzer) was placed and polymerized 20 s. The samples were incubated in distilled water at 37°C for 24 h prior to the shear-bond-strength test. The shear-bond-strength test was accomplished using a universal testing device. Statistical analyzes were made with One-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests. There was no significant difference between self-adhesive resin cement and alloy primer applied groups but showed better bond strength values than self-etch and etch&rinse adhesive applied groups. The application of self-adhesive resin cement and alloy primer+universal adhesive in amalgam repair exhibited successful outcomes.

Grinding of composite cores using diamond burs with different grit sizes

Aim: To evaluate the retention of Y-TZP crowns cemented in aged composite cores ground with burs of different grit sizes. Methods: Sixty composite resin simplified full-crown preparations were scanned, while 60 Y-TZP crowns with occlusal retentions were milled. The composite preparations were stored for 120 days (wet environment-37°C) and randomly distributed into three groups (n=20) according to the type of composite core surface treatment. The groups were defined as: CTRL (control: No treatment), EFB (extra-fine diamond bur [25μm]), and CB (coarse diamond bur [107μm]). The grinding was performed with an adapted surveyor standardizing the speed and pressure of the grinding. The intaglio surfaces on the crowns were air-abraded with silica-coated alumina particles (30 μm) and then a silane was applied. The crowns were cemented with self-adhesive resin cement, thermocycled (12,000 cycles; 5/55°C), stored (120 days) and submitted to aretention test (0.5mm/min). The retentive strength data (MPa) were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and Tukey test, as well as Weibull analysis. Failures were classified as 50C (above 50% of cement in the crown), 50S (above 50% of cement in the substrate) and COE (composite core cohesive failure). Results: No statistical difference was observed among the retention values (p=0.975). However, a higher Weibull modulus was observed in the CTRL group. The predominant type of failure was 50S (above 50% of cement in the substrate composite). Conclusion: The retention of zirconia crowns was not affected by grinding using diamond burs with different grit sizes (coarse/extra-fine) or when no grinding was performed.

Effect of Composite Age on the Repair Bond Strength after Different Mechanical Surface Pretreatments.

To investigate the reparability of aged and fresh resin composite after different mechanical surface pretreatments. Sixty composite specimens (Filtek Supreme XTE, 3M Oral Care) were either aged by thermal cycling (5000 cycles, 5-55°C) and six months of water storage, or immediately processed within 5 min after polymerization. Both aged and fresh specimens were either ground with fine (46-µm) or coarse (100-µm) diamond burs and then silanized or sandblasted with aluminum oxide (Al2O3) and silanized. In the negative control group, no mechanical surface pretreatment or silanization was performed. Specimens (n = 6 per group) were repaired with an adhesive (OptiBond FL, Kerr) and a resin composite (Filtek Supreme XTE). Directly adhered composite-to-composite increments served as the positive control group. After thermoycling, microtensile repair bond strength was assessed and statistically analyzed (α = 0.05). Aged composite surfaces revealed significantly lower repair bond strength than immediately repaired composite. The negative control group demonstrated the significantly lowest microtensile bond strength of all groups. No significant differences in repair bond strength were observed between the different mechanical pretreatments for both aged and fresh specimens. The repair bond strength of fresh composite pretreated with a fine diamond bur + Al2O3 + silane or a coarse diamond bur with/without Al2O3 + silane did not differ significantly from the positive control group. The age of the repaired composite has a greater influence on repair bond strength than does the type of composite surface pretreatment.

Grinding, polishing and glazing of the occlusal surface do not affect the load-bearing capacity under fatigue and survival rates of bonded monolithic fully-stabilized zirconia simplified restorations

This study aims to evaluate the effect of distinct surface treatments (grinding, polishing and glaze) of the occlusal surface of fully-stabilized zirconia (FSZ) simplified restorations bonded onto epoxy resin on the fatigue behavior of the restorations. Disc shaped specimens of FSZ (IPS e.max Zircad MT Multi) were produced (Ø = 10 mm and 0.8 mm in thickness) and randomly allocated into 5 groups, considering the factor ‘surface treatment’ of the occlusal surface: Ctrl – as-sintered; Gr – ground with coarse diamond bur; Gr + Pol– grinding + polishing with two-step polishing system; Gr + Gl – grinding + glaze application; Gr + Pol + Gl – grinding + polishing + glaze application. Next, the FSZ intaglio surface was air-abraded with 45 μm aluminum oxide powder for 10 s at 15 mm of distance under 2 bar pressure and the discs were adhesively cemented (Multilink Automix) onto its dentin analogue pair (Ø = 10 mm; thickness = 2.7 mm). Finally, the step-stress fatigue test was executed (load ranging from 200 to 1300 N; step-size of 100N; 10,000 cycles per step, 20 Hz). In addition, surface topography, roughness, phase transformation and fractography analyses were performed. Grinding altered the topographical pattern introducing defects into the material surface and increasing roughness. Polishing and glaze application led to a smoothening effect, reducing surface defects and statistically decreasing roughness. However, the effect on roughness of polishing and glaze was statistically similar. No phase transformation was observed, thus only cubic and tetragonal phases were detected. No surface treatment had a deleterious effect regarding the fatigue failure load, number of cycles for failure and survival rates. All failures (cracks) started on the bonding surface. Thus, polishing and glaze are indicated to reduce surface roughness, despite not leading to differences in terms of fatigue performance.

Machinability: Zirconia-reinforced lithium silicate glass ceramic versus lithium disilicate glass ceramic

Diamond grinding used in dental adjustment of high-strength zirconia-reinforced lithium silicate glass ceramic (ZLS) and lithium disilicate glass ceramic (LDGC) is challenging in restorative dentistry. This study aimed to compare the machinability of ZLS and LDGC in diamond grinding in terms of machining forces and energy, debris, surface and edge chipping damage. Grinding experiments in simulation of dental adjustment were conducted using a computer-assisted high-speed dental handpiece and coarse diamond burs. A piezoelectric force dynamometer and a high-speed data acquisition system were used for on-processing monitoring for assessment of grinding forces and energy. Grinding debris and grinding-induced surface and edge chipping damage were examined using scanning electron microscopy. The results show that grinding of ZLS required higher tangential and normal forces and energy than LDGC (p < 0.05). ZLS was ranked the most difficult to machine among dental glass ceramics based on a machinability index associated with the material mechanical properties. The higher machinability indices of ZLS and LDGC pose a challenge for clinicians to conduct high-efficient material removal for dental adjustment and repair. Both ZLS and LDGC debris were micro fractured particles but the former were smaller than the latter due to the finer microstructure of ZLS. Ground ZLS surfaces contained more irregular microchipping and microfracture in comparison with LDGC surfaces with intergranular fracture or grain dislodgement. Grinding-induced edge chipping damage remained a serious issue for both ZLS and LDGC, which depths ranged approximately 20–100 μm and significantly increased with the material removal rate (p < 0.01). As the zirconia-reinforcement in ZLS only slightly reduced edge chipping damage (p > 0.05), continued efforts are required to explore new reinforcement technologies for optimized LDGC.

Polishing of Ground Y-TZP Ceramic is Mandatory for Improving the Mechanical Behavior.

It evaluated the effect of aging by Low Temperature Degradation (LTD), executed after post- processing surface treatments (polishing, heat treatment and glazing), on the surface characteristics (micromorphology and roughness) and on the structural stability (phase transformation and mechanical behavior-flexural strength and structural reliability) of a ground yttrium-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (Y-TZP) ceramic. Discs of Y-TZP (VITA In-Ceram YZ) were manufactured (ISO:6872-2015; 15 mm in diameter and 1.2 ± 0.2 mm in thickness) and randomly assigned into 10 groups according two factors: "aging" in 2 levels (with or without) and "surface treatment" in 5 levels (Ctrl: as-sintered; Gr: grinding with coarse diamond bur; Gr + HT: grinding plus heat treatment; Gr + Pol: grinding plus polishing; Gr + Gl: grinding plus glazing). Roughness (n=30), biaxial flexural test (n=30), phase transformation (n=2), and surface topography (n=2) analyses were performed. Aging led to an intense increase in monoclinic (m) phase content for all the tested conditions, being the as-sintered samples (Ctrl= 65.6%) more susceptible to the t-m phase transformation. Despite of increasing the m-phase content, aging was not detrimental for characteristic strength (except to the grinding condition). There was no significant reduction in the Weibull modulus after surface treatments. Additionally, heat treatment and glazing after grinding led to a decrease in characteristic strength, while polishing presented the highest characteristic strength values. Thus, polishing is mandatory after grinding the Y-TZP ceramic, while performing glazing or heat-treatment alone after grinding lead to the worst mechanical performance.

Effect of Grinding and Multi-Stimuli Aging on the Fatigue Strength of a Y-TZP Ceramic.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of grinding and multi-stimuli aging on the fatigue strength, surface topography and the phase transformation of Y-TZP ceramic. Discs were manufactured according to ISO-6872:2008 for biaxial flexure testing (diameter: 15 mm; thickness: 1.2 mm) and randomly assigned considering two factors "grinding" and "aging": C- control (as-sintered); CA- control + aging; G- ground; GA- ground + aging. Grinding was carried out with coarse diamond burs under water-cooling. Aging protocols consisted of: autoclave (134°C, 2 bars pressure, 20 hours), followed by storage for 365 days (samples were kept untouched at room temperature), and by mechanical cycling (106 cycles by 20 Hz under a load of 50% from the biaxial flexure monotonic tests). Flexural fatigue strengths (20,000 cycles; 6 Hz) were determined under sinusoidal cyclic loading using staircase approach. Additionally, surface topography analysis by FE-SEM and phase transformation analysis by X-ray Diffractometry were performed. Dixon and Mood methodology was used to analyze the fatigue strength data. Grinding promotes alterations of topographical pattern, while aging apparently did not alter it. Grinding triggered t-m phase transformation without impacting the fatigue strength of the Y-TZP ceramic; and aging promoted an intense t-m transformation that resulted in a toughening mechanism leading to higher fatigue strength for as-sintered condition, and a tendency of increase for ground condition (C < CA; G = GA). It concludes that grinding and aging procedures did not affect deleteriously the fatigue strength of the evaluated Y-TZP ceramic, although, it promotes surface topography alterations, except to aging, and t-m phase transformation.

Grinding With Diamond Burs and Hydrothermal Aging of a Y-TZP Material: Effect on the Material Surface Characteristics and Bacterial Adhesion.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of grinding with diamond burs and low-temperature aging on the material surface characteristics and bacteria adhesion on a yttrium-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline (Y-TZP) surface. Y-TZP specimens were made from presintered blocks, sintered as recommended by the manufacturer, and assigned into six groups according to two factors-grinding (three levels: as sintered, grinding with extra-fine diamond bur [25-μm grit], and grinding with coarse diamond bur [181-μm grit]) and hydrothermal aging-to promote low-temperature degradation (two levels: presence/absence). Phase transformation (X-ray diffractometer), surface roughness, micromorphological patterns (atomic force microscopy), and contact angle (goniometer) were analyzed. Bacterial adhesion (colony-forming units [CFU]/biofilm) was quantified using an in vitro polymicrobial biofilm model. Both the surface treatment and hydrothermal aging promoted an increase in m-phase content. Roughness values increased as a function of increasing bur grit sizes. Grinding with a coarse diamond bur resulted in significantly lower values of contact angle (p<0.05) when compared with the extra-fine and control groups, while there were no differences (p<0.05) after hydrothermal aging simulation. The CFU/biofilm results showed that neither the surface treatment nor hydrothermal aging simulation significantly affected the bacteria adherence (p>0.05). Grinding with diamond burs and hydrothermal aging modified the Y-TZP surface properties; however, these properties had no effect on the amount of bacteria adhesion on the material surface.

Fatigue strength of yttria-stabilized zirconia polycrystals: Effects of grinding, polishing, glazing, and heat treatment

This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effect of different surface post-processing treatments (polishing, heat treatment, glazing, polishing + heat treatment and polishing + glazing) on the superficial characteristics (micromorphology and roughness), phase transformation and fatigue strength of a Y-TZP ceramic ground with diamond bur. Discs of Y-TZP ceramic were manufactured (ISO:6872-2015; final dimensions of 15mm in diameter and 1.2 ± 0.2mm in thickness) and randomly allocated according to the surface condition: Ctrl – as-sintered; Gr – ground with coarse diamond bur; Gr+HT – ground and subjected to the heat treatment; Gr+Pol – ground and polished; Gr+Pol+HT – ground, polished and heat treated; Gr+Gl – ground and glazed; Gr+Pol+Gl – ground, polished and glazed. The following analyses were performed: roughness (n = 25), surface topography (n = 2), phase transformation (n = 2) and fatigue strength by staircase method (n = 20). All treatments influenced to some extent the surface characteristics of Y-TZP, being that polishing reduced the surface roughness, the m-phase content and improved the fatigue strength; glazing led to the lowest roughness values (Ra and Rz), although it showed the worst fatigue strength; heat treatment showed limited effect on surface roughness, led to complete reversion of the existing m-phase content to t-phase, without enhancing fatigue performance. Thus, a polishing protocol after clinic adjustment (grinding) of monolithic restorations based on polycrystalline zirconia material is mandatory for surface characteristics and fatigue performance improvements.

Surface micro-morphology, phase transformation, and mechanical reliability of ground and aged monolithic zirconia ceramic

This study aimed to determine the effects of grinding and low temperature aging on the biaxial flexural strength, structural reliability (Weibull analysis), surface topography, roughness analysis, and phase transformation (t→m) of an yttrium-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline ceramic. Ceramic discs (15.0×1.2±0.2mm, VITA In-Ceram YZ) were prepared and randomly assigned into six groups according to 2 factors (n=30): ‘grinding’ (Ctrl – without treatment, as-sintered; Xfine – grinding with extra fine diamond bur – 30µm; Coarse – grinding by coarse diamond bur – 151µm), and ‘aging’ (without or with aging: CtrlLTD; XfineLTD; CoarseLTD). Grinding was performed in an oscillatory motion with a contra-angle handpiece under constant water-cooling. Low temperature degradation (LTD) was simulated in an autoclave at 134°C, under 2bar pressure, for 20h. The roughness (Ra and Rz parameters) significantly increased after grinding in accordance with bur grit-size (Coarse>Xfine>Ctrl), and aging promoted distinct effects (Ctrl=CtrlLTD; Xfine>XfineLTD; Coarse=CoarseLTD). Grinding increased the m-phase, and aging led to an increase in the m-phase in all groups. However, different susceptibilities to LTD were observed. Weibull analysis showed a significant increase in the characteristic strength after grinding (Coarse=Xfine>Ctrl), while aging did not lead to any deleterious impact. Neither grinding nor aging resulted in any deleterious impact on material reliability (no statistical decrease in the Weibull moduli). Thus, neither grinding nor aging led to a deleterious effect on the mechanical properties of the evaluated Y-TZP ceramic although a high m-phase content and roughness were observed.

Mechanical behavior of a Y-TZP ceramic for monolithic restorations: effect of grinding and low-temperature aging

This study aimed to investigate the effects of grinding with diamond burs and low-temperature aging on the mechanical behavior (biaxial flexural strength and structural reliability), surface topography, and phase transformation of a Y-TZP ceramic for monolithic dental restorations. Disc-shaped specimens (Zirlux FC, Ivoclar Vivadent) were manufactured according to ISO 6872 (2008) and divided in accordance with two factors: “grinding — 3 levels” and “LTD — 2 levels”. Grinding was performed using a contra-angle handpiece under constant water-cooling with different grit-sizes (extra-fine and coarse diamond burs). LTD was simulated in an autoclave at 134°C, under a pressure of 2 bar, over a period of 20h. Surface topography analysis showed an increase in roughness based on surface treatment grit-size (Coarse>Xfine>Ctrl), LTD did not influence roughness values. Both grinding and LTD promoted an increase in the amount of m-phase, although different susceptibilities to degradation were observed. According to existing literature the increase of m-phase content is a direct indicative of Y-TZP degradation. Weibull analysis showed an increase in characteristic strength after grinding (Coarse=Xfine>Ctrl), while for LTD, distinct effects were observed (Ctrl<Ctrl LTD; Xfine=Xfine LTD and Coarse=Coarse LTD). Weibull moduli were statistically similar between all tested groups. Within the limits of this current study, it was feasible to notice that both aging in autoclave for 20h (LTD) and grinding showed not to be detrimental to the mechanical properties of Zirlux FC Y-TZP ceramic.