Effect of different combinations of surface treatment on adhesion of resin composite to zirconia

Purpose: The purpose of this laboratory study was to evaluate the effect of different surface treatment combinations on resin zirconia bonding. Materials and methods: One hundred and five pre-sintered zirconia quadrangles were prepared out of zirconia blocks, polished, then sintered and divided into five groups (n=21). Group I (control): samples were untreated, group II: grit-blasting with 50 µm alumina particles, group III: grit-blasting with 100 µm alumina particles, group IV: Er,Cr:YSGG laser, and group V: selective infiltration etching technique. Microstructural analysis was performed using scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, a diffractometer, and a profilometer. Cylinders of composite resin were luted with Panavia resin composite cementand Clearfil ceramic primer. Shear bond strength (SBS) was determined using a universal testing machine. Results: SBS results were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey post hoc tests for multiple comparisons. The level of significance was set to 0.05. SBS values of the studied groups II, III, IV, and V were 16.2±1.8 MPa, 15.7±3.7 MPa, 14.8±3.4 MPa, and 16.8±3.0 MPa, respectively. All values were significantly higher than the control group (10.48±1.80 MPa), but without a significant difference between them. Group III exhibited the roughest surface, and Group I had a more significantly reduced surface roughness value than any other group. Group III presented the highest significant increase of tetragonal to monoclinic phase transformation (13%). Conclusion: The use of grit-blasting with greater particles size enhanced SBS with resin composite cement, but induced a higher amount of monoclinic phase transformation. The use of primer based on adhesive monomer with the resin cement is required to enhance the bonding efficiency. The use of laser enhanced the surface roughness and the bonding ability to zirconia.