Adhesive bonding of a lithium disilicate ceramic material with resin-based luting agents

This study evaluates the bonding characteristics of a lithium disilicate-based ceramic material (IPS Empress 2). Two sizes of disk specimens of the material were made, and three groups of disk pairs were separately surface-prepared using three techniques; etching with phosphoric acid, etching with hydrofluoric acid, and air-abrasion with alumina. Each group was further divided into four sub-groups; group (i) was bonded with the Variolink II composite, (ii) was treated with the Monobond-S silane primer and bonded with the Variolink II composite, (iii) was bonded with the Super-Bond acrylic adhesive and (iv) was treated with the Porcelain Liner M silane primer and bonded with the Super-Bond acrylic adhesive. Shear bond strengths were determined before and after 100 000 thermocycles. Bond strength varied from 10.6 to 71.5 MPa before thermocycling, whereas post-thermocycling bond strength ranged from 0 to 61.2 MPa. Among the three surface preparations, hydrofluoric acid etching (HF) was most effective in enhancing bond strength of both luting materials, especially for unsilanized specimens. Application of the silane primer elevated bond strength of both luting agents regardless of surface preparation method. It can be concluded, for both luting agents, that durable bond to the Empress 2 ceramic material can be achieved through the combined application of HF and the proprietary silane primer.