An In Vitro Comparison of the Influence of Air Abrasion, G-Multiprimer, and Salivary Contamination on the Shear Bond Strength and Surface Characteristics of Opaque Zirconia Ceramics

TL;DR

This study compares how different surface treatments and saliva affect the bond strength and surface features of zirconia ceramics used in dental applications.

Contribution

The study introduces a direct comparison of air abrasion, G-multiprimer, and salivary contamination effects on zirconia ceramics in a controlled in vitro setting.

Findings

Air abrasion and G-multiprimer significantly increased shear bond strength in a moisture-free environment.

Saliva contamination reduced bond strength across all treatment groups.

Surface roughness was highest with air abrasion and lowest in the control group.

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the effect of various surface treatments and saliva contamination on the shear bond strength (SBS) and surface characteristics of yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia ceramics (YTZP) bonded with self-adhesive resin cement (SAC).

Materials and Methods: Opaque Y-ZTP ceramics were divided into four groups based on specific surface treatment: control (C), air abrasion (AA), G-multiprimer (G), and AA + G (AG). Surface characteristics of the treated specimens, roughness and, elemental analysis were done using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and energy dispersive analysis of X-rays (EDAX), respectively. These specimens were further divided into saliva (S) and non-S (NS) contamination groups. Following the surface treatment, 10 resin cement cylinders were affixed onto the zirconia discs within every group. Micro-SBS (µSBS) was calculated, and fracture surfaces were assessed. Statistical analysis was done using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the post hoc Tukey test.

Results: The µSBS values for the groups were as follows: CS (0.86 ± 0.7), CNS (3.13 ± 2.7), AS (3.14 ± 2.6), ANS (2.96 ± 1.2), GS (5.92 ± 2.2), GNS (5.94 ± 2.2), AGS (4.97 ± 0.9), and AGNS (8.06 ± 1.4). A one-way ANOVA showed that all the groups had a statistically significant difference in the SBS except the AS, AGS, CNS, ANS, as well as the GNS and AGNS. AFM results revealed the mean roughness value of AA is highest, followed by G-multiprimer, AG, and least in control. This difference is statistically significant with p-value of <0.001. This also correlated with the SEM images.

Conclusion: Airborne particle abrasion and the application of G-multiprimer provide the best results in a moisture-free environment.

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