Effect of Zirconia Surface Roughness on Shear Bond Strength to Resin Cements

Despite the expanded application for zirconia in restoration dentistry, there is less clear recommendation in the literature regarding the relation between zirconia surface roughness and its shear bond strength to resin cements. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of surface roughness of Cercon zirconia on its shear bond strength to resin cements. 66 Zirconia rectangular specimens (10 x 10 x 3 mm) were prepared from Cercon zirconia blocks, finished using a diamond rotary cutting instrument, sintered, and then assigned into 6 groups. The specimens in the first group without polishing were used as control. Other groups were polished against 120#, 240#, 360#, 500# and 600# sand paper after sintered, respectively. Ceramic surface were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and Surface profilometer. 10 samples of each group were bonded with Variolink N resin cements respectively and submitted to shear bond strength test. Shear bond strength was measured and analyzed. The results showed that the population means of 6 groups of samples were not equal. There was no significant difference between control group and 600# sand paper treated group, 500#, 360# and 240# sand paper treated groups (P>0.05), but a significant difference among the other groups (P < 0.05). Findings of this study revealed that the shear bond strength might be raised by increasing the surface roughness of Cercon zirconia. Therefore, the surface roughness of Cercon zirconia has an effect on the shear bond strength, but is not the determining factor in clinical use.