[Effects of sandblasting on surface character and resin bond of zirconia ceramic]

To evaluate the effect of Al2O3 particles sandblasting on the surface roughness, element composition and resin bond durability of zirconia ceramic.

Sixty 2.5 mm thick computer aided design and computer aided manufacture (CAD/CAM) zirconia ceramic (Vita Inceram YZ) plates were fired, polished and cleaned. Half of polished ceramic plates was sandblasted with 50 µm alumina particles at 0.3 MPa for 20 s. The surface roughness of polished and sandblasted ceramic surface were measured by 3D-laser scanning microscope, and the surface element weight and atom ratio of the ceramic surface were measured by energy disperse spectroscopy (EDS). Then polished and sandblasted ceramic plates were randomized into six groups. In Group 1 and 2 the polished and sandblasted ceramic plates were bonded irrespectively with conventional resin cement (DUOLINK). In Group 3 and 4 the ceramic plates were bonded with resin cement containing MDP (Panavia F), In Group 5 and 6 the specimens were pretreated with silane coupler acitivated by MDP (Clearfil Ceramic Primer), then bond with Panavia F. The specimens of each test group were then divided into two subgroups, and to received shear test after 0 and 10 000 time thermal cycle. The data was analyzed by one-way ANOVA and independent t test.

Comparing with polishing, sandblasting reduced the oxygen atom and weight ratio of zirconia ceramic surface (P < 0.001), and increased the zirconium atom and weight ratio (P < 0.001), meanwhile increased the surface roughness (P < 0.001). The bond strength between ceramic plates and resin cement in all test groups decreased after thermocycling (P < 0.001). All specimen in test group 1 and 2 lost bond, and the bond strength of test group 3 and 5 [(0.59 ± 0.17), (0.89 ± 0.84) MPa] were significantly lower than that of test group 4 and 6 [(14.63 ± 3.03), (16.64 ± 1.90) MPa], and the bond strength of test group 6 were significanlty higher than that of test group 4.

Sandblasting improves durability of bond between zirconia ceramic and resin cement containing MDP, not only by increasing the roughness and area of ceramic surface, but also by changing its surface element composition to obtain more chemical bond.