Effect of Veneering Techniques on Shear and Microtensile Bond Strengths of Zirconia-Based All-Ceramic Systems

To evaluate shear (SBS) and microtensile (μTBS) bond strengths of zirconia cores veneered using different fabrication techniques.

Seventy-five IPS e.max ZirCAD plates were fabricated and divided into three groups according to the following veneering techniques: layering, pressing, and CAD-on. The specimens of the layering group were veneered with IPS e.max Ceram, and the specimens of the pressing group were veneered with IPS e.max Zir- Press. Veneering ceramics in the CAD-on group were milled from IPS e.max CAD, fused with the core by using a glass-fusion ceramic, and then crystallized. Bond strength tests were performed using a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min for the SBS test and 1 mm/min for the μTBS test. Mean SBS and μTBS (MPa) were analyzed with one-way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD test (p < 0.05).

Significant differences in SBS were observed between the groups (p < 0.05). The mean SBS for the CAD-on group was significantly higher (31.89 ± 5.83 MPa) than those of the layering (14.27 ± 4.45 MPa) and pressing (12.23 ± 3.04 MPa) groups. However, the mean μTBS of the CAD-on (30.41 ± 8.64 MPa), layering (21.71 ± 3.40 MPa) and pressing (20.74 ± 6.36 MPa) groups were not statistically significant (p > 0.05).

The CAD-on technique showed the highest shear bond strengths of the tested groups, and most of the specimens failed cohesively instead of failing at the adhesive interface.