Effect of different times of nonthermal argon plasma treatment on the microtensile bond strength of self-adhesive resin cement to yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal ceramic

Abstract

Statement of problem: Nonthermal argon plasma may increase the surface energy of yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (Y-TZP) dental ceramics. However, studies that evaluated the effect of increased plasma treatment times on the bond strength of resin cements to Y-TZP ceramics are lacking.

Purpose: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of different nonthermal argon plasma (NTAP) treatment times on the surface energy and bond strength of a self-adhesive resin cement to Y-TZP ceramic.

Material and methods: Forty-eighty Y-TZP plates were divided into 2 groups (n=24): as-sintered (AS) and airborne-particle abrasion (APA) with 50-μm Al₂O₃, which were subdivided into 4 groups (n=6) according to the time of NTAP treatment: 0, 20, 60, and 120 seconds. The surface energy was evaluated with a goniometer. Forty Y-TZP blocks submitted to the same surface treatments (8 groups; n=5) were cemented to composite resin blocks, using a self-adhesive resin cement. After storage in distilled water at 37°C for 24 hours, the Y-TZP-composite resin blocks were cut into beams and submitted to a microtensile bond strength (μTBS) test. Data were analyzed using 2-way ANOVA and the Tukey honestly significant differences test (α=.05).

Results: Treatment with NTAP increased the surface energy for AS and APA groups (P<.05). For both groups, the μTBS was as follows: 0 seconds < 20 seconds < 60 seconds = 120 seconds (P<.05). Only after 120 seconds of NTAP treatment was the μTBS of APA higher than that of AS (P<.05).

Conclusions: Treatment with NTAP improved the surface energy and increased the μTBS of self-adhesive resin cement to Y-TZP ceramic, with higher times of plasma treatment resulting in higher bond strength.