Micro-shear bond strength of dual-cured resin cement to glass ceramics

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of sandblasting, etching, and a silane coupling agent on the ability of dual-cured resin cement to bond to glass ceramics designed for in indirect adhesive restoration.

A cast glass ceramic (Olympus Castable Ceramics) with a crystalline phase consisting of mica and beta-spondumene was selected as the substrate material. The glass surfaces, which were sandblasted, polished, or etched with phosphoric acid or hydrofluoric acid (HF), were bonded with a dual-cured resin cement (Panavia Fluoro Cement) using a dentin adhesive system (Clearfil SE Bond), both with and without a silane coupling agent. A micro-shear bond test was carried out to measure the bond strength of the resin cement to the glass surface. Each glass surface was bonded and tested using the shear test. In addition, surfaces with the bonding removed after the shear bond test, the adhesive interface between the glass and cement, and an etched glass surface without any bonding, were studied morphologically using scanning electron microscopy or field emission scanning electron microscopy.

Usage of a silane coupling agent effectively raised the bond-strength values of resin cement (Fisher's PLSD, P<0.01). The effectiveness of using phosphoric acid etching to improve bonding was not clear (Fisher's PLSD, P>0.01). HF-etching for 30s seemed to over-etch the glass surface, resulting in adverse effects on bonding (Fisher's PLSD, P<0.01).

The micro-shear bond strength between Olympus Castable Ceramics and resin cement can be increased by the silane coupling agent used along with an acidic primer.