Effects of coloring procedures on shear bond strength between resin cement and colored zirconia.

PURPOSE: Debonding is expected as a frequent failure type in zirconia restorations. Therefore the aim of the current study is to evaluate the shear bond strength between colored zirconia and resin cement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: There were 11 groups evaluated each containing 12 zirconia discs (15 mm x 12 mm x 1.6 mm). Groups were colored with the colors A3, B1, C4, D2, and D4 of the VITA classical shade scale. Coloring procedure was carried out for either 3 second or 60 seconds for the study groups and the control group was left untreated. Specimens were then bonded to translucent resin cement having a thickness of 3 mm and width of 3 mm. The shear bond strength of the samples was measured in a universal testing machine with a crosshead speed of 1 mm per minute. Two-way analysis of variance and Tukey's HSD test were used for pairwise comparisons. Also paired t-test was used for comparing groups with the same color but having different shading times. RESULTS: Any significant difference was not found between the shear bond strengths of samples depending on whether color or shading times. Among the groups, B1 (60 seconds of coloring) had the highest bond strength (10.05 MPa), while A3 (60 seconds of coloring) showed the lowest bond strength (6.72 MPa). However, these differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Coloring zirconia did not affect the shear bond strength between zirconia and resin cement.

The Effect of Luting Cement and Titanium Base on the Final Color of Zirconium Oxide Core Material.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of different types of luting cements and different colors of zirconium cores on the final color of the restoration that simulates implant-supported fixed partial dentures (FPDs) by using a titanium base on the bottom. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty zirconium oxide core plates (Zr-Zahn; 10 mm in width, 5 mm in length, 0.5 mm in height) were prepared in different shades (n = 20; noncolored, A2, A3, B1, C2, D2). The specimens were subdivided into two subgroups for the two types of luting cements (n = 10). The initial color measurements were made on zirconium oxide core plates using a spectrometer. To create the cement thicknesses, stretch strips with holes in the middle (5 mm in diameter, 70 µm in height) were used. The second measurement was done on the zirconium oxide core plates after the application of the resin cement (U-200, A2 Shade) or polycarboxylate cement (Lumicon). The final measurement was done after placing the titanium discs (5 mm in diameter, 3 mm in height) in the bottom. The data were analyzed with two-way ANOVA and Tukey's honestly significant differences (HSD) tests (α = 0.05). RESULTS: The ∆E*ab value was higher in the resin cement-applied group than in the polycarboxylate cement-applied group (p < 0.001). The highest ∆E*ab value was recorded for the zirconium oxide core-resin cement-titanium base, and the lowest was recorded for the polycarboxylate cement-zirconium oxide core (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The luting cement, the presence of titanium, and the color of zirconium are all important factors that determine the final shade of zirconia cores in implant-supported FPDs.

Evaluation of translucency of monolithic zirconia and framework zirconia materials.

PURPOSE: The opacity of zirconia is an esthetic disadvantage that hinders achieving natural and shade-matched restorations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the translucency of non-colored and colored framework zirconia and monolithic zirconia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The three groups tested were: non-colored framework zirconia, colored framework zirconia with the A3 shade according to Vita Classic Scale, and monolithic zirconia (n=5). The specimens were fabricated in the dimensions of 15×12×0.5 mm. A spectrophotometer was used to measure the contrast ratio, which is indicative of translucency. Three measurements were made to obtain the contrast ratios of the materials over a white background (L(*)w) and a black background (L(*)b). The data were analyzed using the one-way analysis of variance and Tukey HSD tests. One specimen from each group was chosen for scanning electron microscope analysis. The determined areas of the SEM images were divided by the number of grains in order to calculate the mean grain size. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were observed among all groups (P<.05). Non-colored zirconia had the highest translucency with a contrast ratio of 0.75, while monolithic zirconia had the lowest translucency with a contrast ratio of 0.8. The mean grain sizes of the non-colored, colored, and monolithic zirconia were 233, 256, and 361 nm, respectively. CONCLUSION: The translucency of the zirconia was affected by the coloring procedure and the grain size. Although monolithic zirconia may not be the best esthetic material for the anterior region, it may serve as an alternative in the posterior region for the bilayered zirconia restorations.

Transmission of Er:YAG laser through different dental ceramics.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) laser transmission ratio through different dental ceramics with different thicknesses. BACKGROUND DATA: Laser debonding procedure of adhesively luted all-ceramic restorations is based on the transmission of laser energy through the ceramic and the ablation of resin cement, because of the transmitted laser energy. METHODS: Five different dental ceramics were evaluated in this study: sintered zirconium-oxide core ceramic, monolithic zirconium-oxide ceramic, feldspathic ceramic, leucite-reinforced glass ceramic, and lithium disilicate-reinforced glass ceramic. Two ceramic discs with different thicknesses (0.5 and 1 mm) were fabricated for each group. Ceramic discs were placed between the sensor membrane of the laser power meter and the tip of the contact handpiece of an Er:YAG laser device with the aid of a custom- made acrylic holder. The transmission ratio of Er:YAG laser energy (500 mJ, 2 Hz, 1 W, 1000 µs) through different ceramic discs was measured with the power meter. Ten measurements were made for each group and the results were analyzed with two way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey honestly significant difference (HSD) tests. RESULTS: The highest transmission ratio was determined for lithium disilicate-reinforced ceramic with 0.5 mm thickness (88%) and the lowest was determined for feldspathic ceramic with 1 mm thickness (44%). The differences among the different ceramics and between the different thicknesses were significant (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Ceramic type and thickness should be taken into consideration to adjust the laser irradiation parameters during laser debonding of adhesively luted all-ceramic restorations.

Effects of coloring procedures on zirconia/veneer ceramics bond strength.

PURPOSE: The most common failure seen in restorations with a zirconia core is total or layered delamination of the ceramic veneer. In the present study, the shear bond strengths between veneering ceramics and colored zirconia oxide core materials were evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Zirconia discs (15 × 12 × 1.6 mm) were divided into 11 groups of 12 discs each. Groups were colored according to the Vita Classic scale: A3, B1, C4, D2, and D4. Each group was treated with the recommended shading time for 3 s, or with prolonged shading for 60 s, except for the control group. Samples were veneered with 3 mm thick and 3.5 mm in diameter translucent ceramic and subjected to shear test in a universal testing machine with a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's HSD tests were used for comparisons of the groups having the same shading times. A paired t-test was used for groups of the same color (3 s/60 s). RESULTS: Among the 11 groups investigated C4 (3 s) had the highest bond strength with a value of 36.40 MPa, while A3 (3 s) showed the lowest bond strength with a value of 29.47 MPa. CONCLUSION: Coloring procedures can affect zirconia/ceramic bond strength. However, the results also showed that bond strengths of all the investigated groups were clinically acceptable.

The effect of coloring liquids on the translucency of zirconia framework.

PURPOSE: Translucency of all-ceramic restorations is an important factor which affects the final appearance and esthetic outcome of the restoration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the shade of coloring liquid on the translucency of zirconia framework. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty zirconium oxide core plate (15 × 12 × 0.5 mm) were divided into 6 groups of 5 plates each. Each group was classified according to the shade of coloring liquid based on Vita Classic Scale (A2, A3, B1, C2, and D2), and each sample was immersed in coloring liquid for 3 seconds as recommended by the manufacturer, except for the control group. Contrast ratio, as a translucency parameter, was calculated using a spectrophotometer and the data were analyzed with oneway analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's honestly significant differences (HSD) tests (α=.05). RESULTS: Significant differences in translucency among the control and test groups, and the B1 shaded group and other shades was observed. There were no significant differences among A2, A3, C2, and D2 shaded groups. CONCLUSION: The translucency of the zirconium oxide cores was affected by the coloring procedure and significant differences in the translucency measurements were identified between specific shades.