This study analyzed the effect of grit blasting pressures on resin cement to zirconia (ZrO2) adhesion using enclosed mold shear bond test (EM-SBS). ZrO2 blanks were pre-treated with Rocatec™ Soft as follows: group 1: control, group 2: specimens treated at 80 kPa, group 3: at 180 kPa, group 4: at 280 kPa, and group 5: at 380 kPa. Monobond® N and Multilink® Speed were used as the silane and resin cement, respectively. Next, the blanks were assigned into three sub-groups (n=8, N=108) according to storage conditions. A non-linear relation was observed between EM-SBS and contact angle versus grit blasting pressure (r=-0.542, p=0.01). According to ANOVA (p<0.05), the EM-SBS values with both 180 kPa (17.4±6.7 MPa) and 280 kPa (19.4±4.8 MPa) were statistically higher after 12,000 thermo-cycles. Relatively equal thermo-cycled bond strength might also be achieved with intermediate (180 kPa) grit blasting pressure instead of the recommended 280 kPa.
Keywords: Adhesion; Enclosed mold shear bond strength; Grit blasting pressure; Resin cement; Zirconia.