[Study on porcelain veneer restorations. 2. Influence of hydrofluoric acid on bonding strength at the porcelain-resin...

Recently, porcelain veneer restoratives have been introduced to the general practice, and their clinical performances have been confirmed through many longterm clinical investigations. It is expected that porcelain veneer restorations will perform successfully in esthetic, conservative and abhesive dentistry. It is an well known fact that the micro-mechanical bonding strength at the porcelain-resin interface which is achieved through the application of hydrofluoric acid to the porcelain surface is quite a strong bonding mechanism. However, there are very few studies reporting on the acid treatment of porcelain surfaces. The authors have been studying the influence of hydrofluoric acid on porcelain surfaces, and in our previous report we reported, the degrees of corroded porcelain treated with different concentrations of hydrofluoric acid for different durations of application. In the present study, shear bonding strength was measured between resin cements and porcelain surfaces treated with different concentrations (4, 6, 8%) of hydrofluoric acid and for different durations (1 to 24 min.), and the appropriate treatment of porcelain surfaces with regard to the bonding strength was determined. The results obtained were as follows. 1. As the treating time increased with any concentration (4, 6, 8%) of hydrofluoric acid, corrosion of the porcelain surface became more intense. Hardly any evidence of corrosion was observed on any porcelain surface treated for one minute, so it seems that the treatment of porcelain surfaces using 4 to 8% hydrofluoric acids should be continued for over three minutes. 2. Observation of the surface profile by SEM showed no significant differences between the surfaces treated for 3, 6, 12 and 24 minutes. 3. It was not clear as to how the differences of hydrofluoric acid concentrations (4, 6, 8%) plus the differences in the kinds of porcelain (Super Porcelain AAA, NORITAKE Co. Ltd., VMK 68, Vita Zahnfabrik Gmbh & Co., Cosmotech Porcelain, G-C Co. Ltd.) had affected the differences in the amount of corrosion. 4. Regarding to the shear bonding strength at the porcelain-resin cement interface, in comparison with control specimens which were only sandblasted, about all two to three times higher bonding strength were obtained in specimens treated with any concentration (4, 6, 8%) of hydrofluoric acids and for any duration between 3 to 24 minutes. Specimens treated for one minute were an exception.