Surface Pretreatment Protocols For Indirect/Semi-Direct Dental Restorations: A Cross-Sectional Survey and Expert...

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Prosthodontics
• Adhesive Dentistry

Background:

• Adhesive luting workflows are critical for the longevity and success of dental restorations.
• Airborne particle abrasion (APA) is a pretreatment step that can enhance bonding but its application varies.
• Understanding current practices in German-speaking countries is essential for identifying areas for improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the current protocols for adhesive luting workflows, specifically focusing on airborne particle abrasion (APA) usage.
• To assess how these protocols are applied in dental practices across three German-speaking countries.
• To identify factors influencing the use of APA and gather expert recommendations for standardized procedures.

Main Methods:

• A 47-item questionnaire was distributed to dental professionals to gather data on APA unit characteristics, parameters, and pretreatment procedures.
• Data analysis included marginal frequencies, confidence intervals, and Chi-squared tests to compare observed and expected frequencies.
• Twenty-three experts provided recommendations on APA parameters and other pretreatments for bonding restorations.

Main Results:

• 267 participants completed the survey; approximately half reported using APA, with access to equipment correlating with its use.
• Specific APA settings (e.g., 50 µm/0.1 MPa alumina for zirconia) and adhesive choices (MDP for zirconia, silane for ceramics) were reported.
• Preferences for APA use correlated with participant demographics such as age, experience, profession, and prior training.

Conclusions:

• Availability of APA equipment significantly influences the adoption of adhesive luting workflows.
• Adequate APA equipment is vital for maintaining high standards of dental care.
• Standardized protocols, comprehensive training, and ongoing education are necessary to improve the understanding and application of APA in dentistry.