The effect of a zirconia primer on the shear bond strength of Y-TZP ceramic to three different core materials by using a self-adhesive resin cement

AIM: Considering the importance of bond strength of zirconia ceramic to different core materials, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of a new zirconia primer, a mixture of organophosphate and carboxylic acid monomers, on the bond strength of zirconia to three core materials cemented with a self-adhesive resin cement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was done on 36 disk-shaped zirconia specimens in the case (receiving new zirconia primer) and control groups (n = 18) and three core material subgroups (n = 6) (amalgam, nickel–chromium [Ni-Cr], and composite resin). A self-adhesive resin-based luting agent bonded the two parts together. The shear bond strength was tested and the facture modes were determined. Two-way ANOVA and Tukey's honestly significant difference tests were used for data analyses (α = 0.05). RESULTS: Zirconia primer could not significantly increase the bond strength of zirconia ceramic to different core materials (P = 0.754). Composite resin and amalgam cores showed significantly higher bond strength than Ni-Cr core (P = 0.001). On using zirconia primer, 100% of failures of composite resin cores were cohesive inside the core material, 75% in amalgam core and 100% in Ni-Cr core were adhesive. CONCLUSIONS: The use of new zirconia primer based on organophosphate/carboxylic acid monomers could not enhance the bond strength of zirconia ceramic to different core materials. The bond strength of zirconia to amalgam and composite resin cores was higher than that to Ni-Cr core material.