Influence of ceramic surface treatment on shear bond strength of ceramic brackets

To compare four different surface treatment methods and determine which produces adequate bond strength between ceramic brackets and facets of porcelain (feldspathic), and evaluate the Adhesive Remnant Index (ARI) scores.

Ten facets of porcelain specimens with glazed surfaces were used for each group. The specimens were randomly assigned to one of the following treatment conditions of the porcelain surface: (1) no surface treatment (control group), (2) fine diamond bur + orthophosphoric acid gel 37%, (3) hydrofluoric acid (HFL) 10%, and (4) HFL 10% + silane. Ceramic brackets were bonded with the adhesive cement Transbond XT. The shear bond strength values were measured on a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min.

There was a significant difference (P<0.05) between the control group and all other groups. There was no significant difference (P<0.05) between treated porcelain surface with diamond bur + orthophosphoric acid gel 37% (4.8 MPa) and HFL 10% (6.1 MPa), but the group treated with HFL 10% had clinically acceptable bond strength values. The group treated with HFL 10% + silane (17.5 MPa) resulted in a statistically significant higher tensile bond strength (P<0.05). In group 4, 20% of the porcelain facets displayed damage.

Etching of the surface with HFL increased the bond strength values. Silane application was recommended to bond a ceramic bracket to the porcelain surface in order to achieve bond strengths that are clinically acceptable.