Effect of tribochemical silica coating or multipurpose products on bonding performance of a CAD/CAM resin-based material.

OBJECTIVES: Nanocomposite ceramics have been widely used in clinical practice; however, a standard, recommended bonding protocol has not been determined yet. The present study aimed to evaluate application of tribochemical silica coating or multipurpose products on bonding performance of a CAD/CAM resin-based material (known as nanocomposite ceramic).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nanocomposite ceramic specimens were fabricated and assigned into 11 groups to build bonded specimens (n = 15) according to surface treatments (none; air particle abrasion with 50-μm alumina followed by application of a silane coupling agent or a universal adhesive; tribochemical silica coating followed by application of a silane coupling agent or a universal adhesive) and resin luting cements (conventional resin cement, RelyX Veneer; self-adhesive resin cement RelyX Unicem) used. Micro-shear bond strength (μ-SBS) was measured after 24-h water storage or ageing with 10,000 thermocycles plus additional 90-d water storage. Surface roughness after alumina air abrasion and tribochemical silica coating were determined using a profilometer. Surface morphology and element variation were observed by using a scanning electron microscope (SEM)/energy dispersion spectrum (EDS). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to characterize nanocomposite ceramic powders conditioned with silane coupling agent or the universal adhesive used in the μ-SBS test. The nanocomposite ceramic plates received alumina air abrasion, tribochemical silica coating, or without, were determined using X-ray diffraction (XRD).

RESULTS: Nanocomposite ceramic treated with alumina air abrasion achieved the highest surface roughness, followed by those treated with tribochemical silica coating. Newly formed Si-O-Si bonds on the nanocomposite ceramic surface were detected by XPS after treatment with silane coupling agent or universal adhesive, and a Zr-O-P bond was detected after treating with universal adhesive. μ-SBS was significantly affected by bond strategies and ageing. Ageing by thermocycling and water storage significantly decreased μ-SBS. μ-SBS values derived by use of a universal adhesive or self-adhesive resin cement alone were no lower than the values derived by use of a silane coupling agent alone. Pre-silanization further enhanced the bonding improvement of universal adhesive or self-adhesive resin cement. However, tribochemical silica coating failed to provide higher μ-SBS compared with alumina air abrasion. XRD detected no monoclinic zirconia phase after alumina air abrasion or tribochemical silica coating, suggesting that these two roughening methods did not lead to phase transformation of zirconia fillers.

CONCLUSIONS: Combination of presilanization and universal adhesives improve resin bonding of nanocomposite ceramics. Tribochemical silica coating is not superior to alumina air abrasion for pretreated nanocomposite ceramics.