Effect of zirconia surface treatment on its wettability by liquid ceramics
Beata Śmielak1, Leszek Klimek2, Rafał Wojciechowski3
1Assistant Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
Statement Of Problem:
The wettability of the framework by liquid ceramics is important in ensuring a suitable bond between veneering ceramics and zirconia.
Purpose:
The purpose of this in vitro study was to examine the dependence of the wetting angle on temperature to determine the transition temperature from nonwettable to wettable states and to calculate the values of the relative wetting forces of the milled surfaces.
Material And Methods:
Fifty zirconia cylinders were divided into 5 groups (n=10) and subjected to the following treatments: milling, grinding, polishing, and airborne-particle abrasion with Al2O3 or SiC. After treatment, the specimens were rinsed, dried, and examined with respect to their wettability by liquid ceramics by using the automated Thermo-Wet test bench. The results were statistically analyzed by an ANOVA (α=.05).
Results:
The most rapid wettability was obtained through airborne-particle abrasion with Al2O3 at 930 °C. Additionally, the highest relative bond strength (with respect to the machined surface) was obtained with Al2O3 abrasion.
Conclusions:
Because of variations in the wettability of the zirconia surface after different treatment methods, the firing temperature of the ceramic should also vary depending on the type of surface treatment applied. Thus, it is determined individually according to the chosen method.
