Statement of problem: A potential limitation to clinical use of In-Ceram and In-Ceram Spinell dental ceramics has been the inability to etch fit surfaces.
Purpose: This study investigated a novel retentive system for In-Ceram and In-Ceram Spinell ceramics.
Material and methods: The system, Bateman etch retention system, relies on incorporation of plastic chips on the surface of a specimen. The plastic chips were subsequently burnt-out to leave pits on the fitting surface of the ceramic restoration. The effect of these surface pits on flexural strength of test specimens was compared with unetched and sandblasted samples. Shear bond strengths between clean and saliva contaminated samples and Panavia TC resinous cement were also determined.
Results: The Bateman etch retention system significantly reduced the flexural strength of both In-Ceram and Spinell ceramic specimens compared with unetched and sandblasted samples (p < 0.05). No significant differences were discovered between shear bond strengths of uncontaminated Bateman etch retention system and sandblasted samples. However, mean shear bond strengths of saliva-contaminated Bateman etch retention system In-Ceram samples were substantially greater than those of saliva contaminated sandblasted samples (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: The Bateman etch retention system method should be the subject of additional investigation.