Stability of the bond between two resin cements and an yttria-stabilized zirconia ceramic after six months of aging in water.

ABSTRACT

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM: The behavior of the luting cement and the cementation protocol are essential in the clinical success of ceramic restorations. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the bond stability of 2 resin cements and a yttria-stabilized tetragonal polycrystalline zirconia (Y-TZP) ceramic submitted to 2 surface treatments. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty plates of a Y-TZP ceramic were assigned to 3 groups according to the surface treatments control, as sintered surface; methacryloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate (MDP), coated with an MDP-based primer, and tribochemical silica-coating (TSC), coated with tribochemical silica. The plates of each group were further divided into 2 subgroups according to the resin cement as follows RelyX adhesive resin cement (conventional) and RelyX Unicem (self-adhesive). Cylinders of resin cements (∅=0.75 mm × 0.5 mm in height) were built up on the ceramic surfaces, and the plates stored in distilled water at 37°C for either 24 hours or 6 months before being submitted to a microshear bond strength test. The data were submitted to 3-way ANOVA and the Tukey honestly significant difference test (α=.05). RESULTS: Three-way ANOVA showed statistical significance for the 3 independent factors resin cement, surface treatment, and period of water immersion (P<.001). Unicem presented the highest microshear bond strength after 24 hours (MDP, 37.4 ±2.3 and TSC, 36.2 ±2.1 MPa). Except for RelyX adhesive resin cement applied on ceramic surfaces treated with TSC, the microshear bond strength of all the other groups decreased after 6 months of aging in water. The microshear bond strength decreased most in the control groups (-81.5% for ARC and -93.1% for Unicem). In the group treated with TSC, the microshear bond strength for Unicem decreased by 54.8% and in that treated with MDP-based primer by -42.5%. In the group treated with MDP-based primer, the microshear bond strength for RelyX ARC decreased by -52.8%. CONCLUSIONS: Irrespective of surface treatments, self-adhesive resin cement was not able to maintain the bond to Y-TZP ceramic after 6 months of aging in water.