This study aims to investigate the effect of sandblasting on the surface roughness of zirconia and the shear bond strength of the veneering porcelain. Pre-sintered zirconia plates were prepared and divided into four groups. Group A were not treated at all; group B were first sandblasted under 0.2 MPa pressure and then densely sintered; group C and D were sintered first, and then sandblasted under 0.2 MPa and 0.4 MPa pressures respectively. Surface roughness was measured and 3D roughness was reconstructed for the specimens, which were also analyzed with X-ray diffractometry. Finally after veneering porcelain sintering, shear bond tests were conducted. Sandblasting zirconia before sintering significantly increased surface roughness and the shear bond strength between zirconia and veneering porcelain (p<0.05). Sandblasting zirconia before sintering is a useful method to increase surface roughness and could successfully improve the bonding strength of veneering porcelain.

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This study aimed to develop reusable dental investments. SiO 2 and MgO were selected as refractory materials to prepare three types of investment（coded as 60S -40M, 80S -20M, 100S）with 40, 20, and 0 wt％ of MgO. Each type of investment was reused twice. Thermal expansion and compressive strength were examined and statistically evaluated by ANOVA. To evaluate fit of castings, full crowns were cast by using a commercial Au-Ag-Pd alloy with all investment types. Marginal fit was statistically analyzed by cement thickness. It was found that although MgO strengthened the mold, it had little influence on expansion. The strength of 60S-40M was the highest, and 100S had the greatest advantage with regard to thermal expansion. In the evaluation for clinical applicability, all investments were able to cast successfully, but their castings might be undersized. Among the experimental binder-free investments reused for dental casting in this study, 100S in particular showed to be a good candidate for repeated fabrication of precision fit castings.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of subpressure on the bond properties of total-etching adhesive to dentin. Thirty-six caries-free premolars were sectioned parallel to the occlusal plane and randomly divided into four groups (n = 9): a control group (C, no treatment) and three subpressure groups, which were treated under 0.8, 0.6 or 0.4 bar after applying adhesives, named S8, S6 and S4, respectively. Afterward, resin was bonded to the dentin surface, and 27 beams (1.0 mm × 1.0 mm) of each group were sectioned. One was selected to observe the bonding interface from each group by SEM. Each group was divided into two subgroups (n = 13): 24 hours of water storage (I) and 10,000 thermocycling (A). The microtensile bond strength (μTBS), failure modes and nanoleakage expression were evaluated. SEM results showed that the subpressure groups had longer and denser resin tags. The μTBS of the subpressure groups was higher than that of the control group (p < 0.05). The subpressure groups were dominated by mixed failure, whereas main interfacial failure appeared in group C. The subpressure groups showed less silver deposition than the control group (p < 0.05). The subpressure technique may remarkably improve bonding strength and decrease nanoleakage on total-etching bonding.

Industrial waste is on the increase, resulting in severe environmental contamination. Against this background, this study sought to investigate the possibility of recycling used phosphate-bonded investments.Commercial phosphate-bonded investment was mixed and heated according to manufacturer's instructions, then powdered with a ball mill machine to be used as recycled investment (Code: R) . Mono-ammonium phosphate (NH4H2PO4) of 2, 5, 8, 11, and 14 g were added to 100 g of R because of residual MgO, and coded as Ra, Rb, Rc, Rd, and Re respectively.Investment properties were then examined. Particle size of R was 50.66 pm and close to the original investment.It was found that more NH4H2PO4 led to larger setting expansion, smaller thermal expansion, and lower fired strength.The data of Re in these three aspects were 1.42 ± 0.09%, 0.78 ± 0.21%, and 8.85 ±0.88 MPa respectively, and differences against the original investment were significant.Ra showed significantly longer setting time than other investments.Based on the results of this study, we concluded that it was possible to set used phosphate-bonded investments by adding NH4H2PO4; in particular, Rd showed suitable expansion and acceptable mechanical properties.

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