Effect of surface roughness and cement space on crown retention

The effects of varying luting agent space and internal surface roughness with different types of cores and cements were studied. One hundred eighty amalgam and 180 composite cores were cemented into standardized stainless steel retainers. Cores and retainers were divided into 12 groups according to core type, core diameter, and retainer roughness. Each group was further subdivided according to cement, A: zinc phosphate (ZOP); B: resin; and C: glass ionomer cement (GIC). Subgroups were divided into thermal-cycled and nonthermal-cycled groups. Thermal cycling was at 5 degrees to 55 degrees C, repeated 500 times. Cores were separated from their retainers with a compression rod in an Instron testing machine at a crosshead speed of 0.02 cm/minute. Results were as follows: Amalgam cores were most retentive. Resin and ZOP cements were equally retentive with amalgam cores, but GIC was less retentive. Resin cores cemented with resin cement were more than twice as retentive than those cemented with ZOP or GIC cements. Retainers with rough internal surfaces were most retentive. A reduced cement space between core and retainer was most retentive. Thermal cycling reduced retention.