Influence of mechanical and chemical pre-treatments on the repair of a hybrid ceramic

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the influence of the respective mechanical and chemical pre-treatments on the composite repair of a CAD/CAM hybrid ceramic using a microtensile bond strength test (μTBS).

Methods: 15 CAD/CAM Blocks of Vita Enamic (VE) were randomly sectioned into three mechanical pre-treatments: (1.) Diamond bur (D), (2.) Airborne abrasion (A), (3.) Tribochemical silica coating (T) and subsequently five chemical pre-treatments: (1.) Clearfil SE Bond Bond (B; negative control), (2.) ESPE Sil (S), (3.) Clearfil Ceramic Primer Plus (CPP), (4.) Clearfil Repair (CR) and (5.) Scotchbond Universal (SCB). Per block, n = 20 specimens were sawn. Half of the specimens were randomly selected and subjected to an immediate bond strength test, while the other half was subjected to artificial aging for 6 months 180 days at 37 °C and subsequent thermocycling of 5000 cycles. A μTBS was performed and data (MPa) were compared in one-way and two-way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD. Paired-t-test was used for artificial aging (α = 0.05). Debonded specimens were analyzed of for failure modes with a stereomicroscope (SEM).

Results: The results of one-way ANOVA for the fifteen fastening procedures after aging indicated significant differences according to SCB-A and CPP-T. Two-way ANOVA after aging observed inferior bond strength for SCB. No differences were observed for mechanical pre-treatments. Artificial aging showed a significant reduction in bond strength on most of the fastening procedures.

Significance: SCB showed the lowest bond strength values besides B, S, CPP, and CR. MDP and silane are both suitable for the repair of VE.

Keywords: Ceramics; Composite resins; Computer-aided design; Dental restoration failure; Dental restoration repair; Materials testing; Silanes; Tensile strength.