Flexural strength, surface roughness, micro-CT analysis, and microbiological adhesion of a 3D-printed temporary crown material.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the thermocycling effect of 3D-printed resins on flexural strength, surface roughness, microbiological adhesion, and porosity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 150 bars (8 × 2 × 2 mm) and 100 blocks (8 × 8 × 2 mm) were made and divided into 5 groups, according to two factors: "material" (AR: acrylic resin, CR: composite resin, BIS: bis-acryl resin, CAD: CAD/CAM resin, and PRINT: 3D-printed resin) and "aging" (non-aged and aged - TC). Half of them were subjected to thermocycling (10,000 cycles). The bars were subjected to mini-flexural strength (σ) test (1 mm/min). All the blocks were subjected to roughness analysis (Ra/Rq/Rz). The non-aged blocks were subjected to porosity analysis (micro-CT; n = 5) and fungal adherence (n = 10). Data were statistically analyzed (one-way ANOVA, two-way ANOVA; Tukey's test, α = 0.05). RESULTS: For σ, "material" and "aging" factors were statistically significant (p < 0.0001). The BIS (118.23 ± 16.26A) presented a higher σ and the PRINT group (49.87 ± 7.55E) had the lowest mean σ. All groups showed a decrease in σ after TC, except for PRINT. The CRTC showed the lowest Weibull modulus. The AR showed higher roughness than BIS. Porosity revealed that the AR (1.369%) and BIS (6.339%) presented the highest porosity, and the CAD (0.002%) had the lowest porosity. Cell adhesion was significantly different between the CR (6.81) and CAD (6.37). CONCLUSION: Thermocycling reduced the flexural strength of most provisional materials, except for 3D-printed resin. However, it did not influence the surface roughness. The CR showed higher microbiological adherence than CAD group. The BIS group reached the highest porosity while the CAD group had the lowest values. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: 3D-printed resins are promising materials for clinical applications because they have good mechanical properties and low fungal adhesion.

Effect of Porcelain-to-Zirconia Ratio and Bonding Strategy on the Biaxial Flexural Strength and Weibull Characteristics of a Stress-Free Bilayer CAD/CAM Ceramic System.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the biaxial flexural strength of different porcelain-to-zirconia thickness ratios and bonding strategies of a stress-free bilayer CAD/CAM ceramic system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 zirconia discs (diameter: 15 mm; thickness: 0.3 or 0.5 mm; n = 30 for each thickness) were divided into six groups (n = 10 each) according to porcelain-to-zirconia ratio and bonding strategy: VM/Zr (control): zirconia discs veneered with a feldspathic ceramic (VM 9, Vita) in 0.9-mm and 0.7-mm thicknesses using a conventional hand-layering technique; VB/Zr-SBU: zirconia discs airborne particle-abraded with 50-µm Al2O3 particles followed by an MDP primer application (Single Bond Universal, 3M) and bonded to the porcelain with a resin cement (Panavia F 2.0, Kuraray); and VB/Zr-RC: zirconia discs airborne particle-abraded with 30-µm silica-coated Al2O3 particles and silanized and bonded to the porcelain with the same resin cement. Before cementation, the VB (Vitablocs II) discs were etched with 5% hydrofluoric acid (60 seconds), followed by silane application. The bilayers (thickness = 1.2 mm) were loaded with 750 g while light curing the resin cement. Two porcelain-to-zirconia thickness ratios were evaluated: 0.9: 0.3 mm and 0.7: 0.5 mm. All groups were subjected to 106 mechanical cycles, followed by a biaxial flexural test. Data (MPa) were subjected to two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Tukey test (5%), and Weibull analyses. RESULTS: Two-way ANOVA revealed that the factor porcelain-to-zirconia ratio (P = .0556) was not significant; however, the bonding strategy factor was statistically significant. Among the 0.5-mm zirconia groups, the VB/Zr-SBU group presented higher flexural strength (s) than the VM/Zr or VB/Zr-RC groups. Similar results were also found for the 0.3-mm zirconia groups, in which the VB/Zr-SBU group also presented higher strength than the others, which were similar in comparison (Tukey). The Weibull modulus was similar among the groups; however, the characteristic strength was significantly different (P = .000). CONCLUSION: The zirconia bonding strategy with 50-µm Al2O3 airborne-particle abrasion, followed by a primer application, increases the flexural strength of a stress-free bilayer CAD/CAM ceramic system.

Effect of different surface treatments on the micro tensile bond strength to dentin, biaxial flexural strength and roughness of CAD/CAM resin composite and polymer infiltrated ceramic.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the biaxial flexural strength (BFS), surface roughness (Ra) and micro tensile bond strength (µTBS) of two CAD/CAM materials after different surface treatments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For µTBS, 64 human molars were used and 32 blocks of resin composite (RC-Lava Ultimate) and polymer-infiltrated ceramic (PIC -Vita Enamic). The blocks and teeth were distributed into 16 groups according to the factors "surface treatment" (HF: 10% hydrofluoric acid; APA: Al2O3 sandblasting; SC: silicate-Al2O3 sandblasting; MEP: Monobond Etch and Prime) and "thermal cycling" (TC). After cementation, the blocks were sectioned into 1 mm2 bars. Half of the specimens were thermocycled and submitted to µTBS test. For BFS, RC and PIC discs were made and distributed according to the surface treatments and after mechanical cycling, submitted to BFS test. Roughness, EDS, SEM, and Weibull analyses were also performed. Data were analyzed by (1 or 2-way) ANOVA and Tukey test (α = 0.05). RESULTS: For RC, SC and HF after TC showed significantly higher µTBS values. For PIC HF after TC showed higher µTBS than the other groups. For RC, the BFS was higher for MEP than Al2O3 and SC. For PIC, none of the surface treatments influenced BFS. CONCLUSION: The highest µTBS for RC was obtained with SC followed by silanization and for PIC, HF followed by silanization. The RC showed lower strength after Al2O3 blasting. For PIC all surface treatments resulted in similar BFS.