Influence of resin cement and thermocycling on milled lithium disilicate ceramic microshear bond strength

The aim of this study was to compare the microshear bond strength of different resin cements to CAD/CAM-created lithium disilicate ceramics after 24 hours and after 1 year (10,000 thermocycles). Forty (40) ceramic bars were subjected to pretreatment comprising airborne abrasion with aluminum oxide particles, etching with 10% hydrofluoric acid and Monobond N application. Bars were divided into 4 groups (n = 10), based on cement type: light-cured Variolink Esthetic LC (VLC) and dual-cured Variolink N (VN) at two different times: after 24 hours and after 1 year. Silicone molds were used to prepare cement cylinders on a ceramic surface. The set was stored in distilled water at 37ºC, for 24 hours or subjected to 10,000 thermocycles. The molds were removed and microshear bond strength was tested. Data were submitted to two-way analysis of variance and Tukey's test (α = 0.05). Based on the comparison between cement values at different aging times (p = 0.035), VN after 24 hours (27.10 ± 0.92) and after 1 year (20.62 ± 1.25) presented significantly higher values than VLC after 24 hours (14.79 ± 0.76) and after 1 year (6.61 ± 0.81). Bond strength recorded for both cements after 24 hours (VN: 27.10 ± 0.92 and VLC: 14.79 ± 0.76) was significantly higher than the one recorded after 1 year (VN: 20.62 ± 1.25 and VLC: 6.61 ± 0.81). The thermocycling reduced the values observed for both investigated cements; bond strength was greater for dual-cure resin cement than for light-cured resin cement.