Bracket Bonding to All-Ceramic Materials with Universal Adhesives

The need for bracket bonding to ceramic restorations is increasing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of universal adhesives on bracket adhesion to polished or glazed lithium disilicate (LDS) and monolithic zirconia (MZ) surfaces. One hundred and twenty brackets (N = 10) were bonded to either polished or glazed LDS (e.max CAD B32, Ivoclar Vivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein) and MZ (In-Ceram(R) YZ, VITA, Bad Sackingen, Germany) blocks using three different adhesives combined with Transbond (TM) XT Paste (3M Unitek, Monrovia, CA, USA). Tested universal adhesives were Scotchbond (TM) Universal Adhesive (SU, 3M St. Paul, MN, USA) and Assure Plus (AP, Reliance, Itasca, IL, USA). Transbond (TM) XT Primer (XTP, 3M Unitek, Monrovia, CA, USA) served as a control adhesive. Bracket bond strength was measured in shear mode (SBS). Failure type was determined by the Modified Adhesive Remnant Index (ARI). Data were statistically analyzed. On polished LDS, SU yielded bracket SBS significantly superior to those of AP and XTP. On polished MZ, the use of SU and AP significantly enhanced bracket retention as compared with XTP. Low SBS values, below the threshold of clinical acceptability, were reached by all tested adhesives on glazed LDS and MZ specimens. SBS measurements corresponded with failure type observations. Universal adhesives SU and AP could be considered for use on polished LDS and MZ surfaces.