Evaluation of Cleaning Methods on Lithium Disilicate Glass Ceramic Surfaces After Organic Contamination

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Dental Materials
• Adhesion Science

Background:

• Contamination of dental ceramic surfaces with organic fluids can compromise resin cement bond strength.
• Lithium disilicate glass ceramic (EMX) is widely used in dental prosthetics.
• Maintaining surface integrity and achieving reliable adhesion is critical for restoration longevity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of various cleaning methods on etched and silanized EMX surfaces contaminated with saliva or blood.
• To assess the impact of re-application of a silane layer after cleaning on resin cement microshear bond strength (mSBS).

Main Methods:

• EMX discs were etched with hydrofluoric acid and silanized.
• Surfaces were contaminated with saliva or human blood, then cleaned using air-water spray, phosphoric acid, alcohol, or Ivoclean.
• Microshear bond strength (mSBS) tests were conducted after cleaning, with and without re-silanization.

Main Results:

• Saliva contamination reduced bond strength by 34%; all tested cleaning methods effectively removed saliva.
• Human blood contamination reduced bond strength by 42%; only Ivoclean restored mSBS to control levels.
• Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed effective removal of contaminants by all cleaning methods.

Conclusions:

• All tested cleaning methods effectively removed saliva from silanized EMX surfaces.
• For human blood contamination, only Ivoclean cleaning paste was capable of restoring the microshear bond strength to uncontaminated levels.
• Re-application of a silane layer was not explicitly detailed as a variable in the conclusion but cleaning efficacy was the focus.