This study evaluated the effects of surface treatments on the bond strength between the new zirconia-reinforced lithium silicate ceramic (ZLS) and resin cement. VITA Suprinity blocks were crystallized according to the manufacturer's instructions and randomly assigned to six groups (N=36; n=6), according to the surface treatment to be performed and aging conditions: HF20, 10% hydrofluoric acid for 20 seconds, baseline (control); HF20tc, 10% hydrofluoric acid for 20 seconds, aging; HF40, 10% hydrofluoric acid for 40 seconds, baseline; HF40tc, 10% hydrofluoric acid for 40 seconds, aging; CJ, CoJet sandblasting (25 seconds, 2.5 bar, 15-mm distance), baseline; and CJtc, CoJet sandblasting (25 seconds, 2.5 bar, 15-mm distance), aging. All specimens were silanized (Monobond S) and cemented with Panavia F to newly polymerized Z250 resin blocks. After specimens were immersed for 24 hours in distilled water at 37° C, 1-mm(2) cross-section microbars were obtained by means of a cutting machine under constant cooling. Baseline groups were immediately tested, whereas "tc" groups were used to analyze the effect of aging on bond strength (10,000 thermal cycles, 5/55°C, 30-second bath). The microtensile bond strength test was performed with a universal testing machine (0.5 mm/min), and bond strength (MPa) was calculated when the load-to-failure (N) was divided by the adhesive area (mm(2)). We also evaluated the surface roughness (Sa, average roughness; Str, texture aspect ratio; Sdr, developed interfacial area ratio) and the contact angle resulting from the treatments. Data were statistically analyzed by one- or two-way analysis of variance and Tukey's test (all α=5%). The failure mode of each specimen was evaluated by stereomicroscopy, and representative specimens were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. The microtensile bond strength was affected by the surface conditioning (p<0.0001), storage condition (p<0.0001), and the interaction between them (p=0.0012). The adhesion for HF etching was stable, whereas for CJ, aging significantly damaged the adhesion. Most failures were predominantly adhesive between ceramic and cement (52.6%). The roughness of the treated samples was higher compared with that of polished specimens for the three evaluated parameters (Sa, Str, and Sdr; all p<0.0001). Contact angle was also influenced by treatments (p<0.0001), with the CJ group showing values similar to those of control specimens. It can be concluded that the three surface treatment techniques present favorable immediate results, but silica coating was not effective in maintaining the bond strength over the long term.

Glazed surfaces have a greater roughness and tend to accumulate more biofilm. Polished surfaces have higher SFE; however, they are temporarily cytotoxic.

This study tested whether a self-etching surface agent and the conventional hydrofluoric acid (HF) would provide the same bonding capacity between resin cement and feldspathic (Fd) and lithium disilicate (Ld) ceramics. Ceramic blocks were cut with a low-speed diamond saw with water cooling (Isomet 1000, Buehler, Lake Bluff, IL, USA) into 20 blocks of 5 × 7 × 4 mm, which were ground flat in a polishing machine (EcoMet/AutoMet 250, Buehler) under water cooling. The blocks were randomly divided into eight groups (n=5), according to ceramic type (Ld or Fd), surface conditioning (HF + Monobond Plus or Etch and Prime), and aging by thermocycling (TC or absence-baseline). After 24 hours in 37°C distilled water, blocks were embedded into acrylic resin and 1-mm cross-section beams composed of ceramic/cement/composite were obtained. The microtensile test was performed in a universal testing machine (DL-1000, EMIC, São José dos Campos, Brazil; 0.5 mm.min, 50 kgf load cell). Bond strength (MPa) was calculated by dividing the load at failure (in N) by the bonded area (mm). The fractured specimens were examined under stereomicroscopy, and one representative sample of each group was randomly selected before the cementation and was further used for analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The self-etching agent showed the highest bond strength for Fd (24.66±4.5) and Ld (24.73±6.9) ceramics and a decrease in surface wettability. SEM and EDS showed the presence of similar components in the tested materials with different topographies for both. Therefore, the self-etching primer was able to deliver even higher bonding than HF+silane to a resin cement.

No abstract

The CAD/CAM technology associated with rapid prototyping (RP) is already widely used in the fabrication of all-ceramic fixed prostheses and in the biomedical area; however, the use of this technology for the manufacture of metal frames for removable dentures is new. This work reports the results of a literature review conducted on the use of CAD/CAM and RP in the manufacture of removable partial dentures.

No abstract

No abstract

Polishing resulted in the lowest values for surface roughness and higher SFE values. Polished ceramics showed less C albicans adherence while the adherence of Streptococci was greater than C albicans in all conditions.