Long Term Water Storage Deteriorates Bonding of Composite Resin to Alumina and Zirconia Short Communication

1. . INTRODUCTION

During recent years all-ceramics, e.g. yttria (Y₂O₃) stabilized zirconium dioxide (ZrO₂, zirconia) and dialuminum trioxide (Al₂O₃alumina) based fixed dental prostheses (FDPs), have been started to be used as substitutes for gold alloy based FDPs because of their biocompatibility and cosmetic values. A wide range of other clinical applications, e.g. root canal posts, crowns, veneers, implants and implant abutments are available as well. Clinical success with these materials is based on proper mechanical interlocking of the device to tooth substance and adhesion of composite resin luting cement to the ceramic and tooth substance. The effects of airborne particle abrasive, tribochemical or combined treatments with or without silanizing have been evaluated in numerous studies to improve bonding of composites to alumina and zirconia [1-5]. However, there is lack of information whether or not the long-term water immersion itself can deteriorate bonding by hydrolysis. Thus, the aim of this piece of work was the evaluate effect of water storage and thermocyling as such and in combination to the bond strength of composite resin to alumina and zirconia.

2. . MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study design simulates clinical situation where ceramic construction is cemented to tooth surface, and especially interface of luting cement to ceramic. Zirconia (Procera Zirconia, Nobel Biocare, Göteborg, Sweden) and alumina (Procera Alumina, Nobel Biocare, Göteborg, Sweden) rhombic specimens (2x10x10mm³) were embedded into cylinders filled with acrylic resin to form the bonding specimen for the composite resin stubs. Substrates were air particle abraded with Al₂O₃ (Korox ® 50, Bego, Bremen, Germany) with a diameter of 50 μm for 10 s with an aiborne particle abrasion device (Rocatec™, 3M ESPE, Seefeld, Germany). Air pressure of 300 kPa was used and the distance between the tip of the blasting device and the ceramic surface was 10 mm. Substrates were primed with two primers (silane and phosphate monomer) before application of the light curing intermediate resin and composite resin [5]. Study groups were as follows:

Group AM: The alumina substrates were primed with a gamma metharyloxy-trimethoxysilane (MPS) (EspeSil, 3M ESPE, Seefeld, Germany) and an intermediate resin (Adper™ Scotchbond™ 1, 3M ESPE, Seefeld, Germany) was applied on the surfaces for 10 s, air-dried for 5 s and photo-polymerized for 10 s (Optilux-501, Kerr, Orange CA, USA). Wavelength maximum of the light was 495 nm and the light intensity was 550 mW/cm².

Group AA: the alumina substrates were primed with 1.0 vol-% solution of 3-acryloxypropyl-trimethoxysilane (ACPS) was prepared in the acidified ethanol–water solution. 95.0 vol-% ethanol and 5.0 vol-% de-ionized water (milli-Q water) mixture. pH was adjusted with 1 M acetic acid to 4.5 and then the solvent system was allowed to stabilize for 24 h at room temperature. An intermediate resin (Adper™ Scotchbond™ 1, 3M ESPE, Seefeld, Germany) was applied on the surfaces for 10 s, air-dried for 5 s and photo-polymerized for 10 s (Optilux-501, Kerr, Orange CA, USA). Wavelength maximum of the light was 495 nm and the light intensity was 550 mW/cm² [5].

Group ZM: the zirconia substrates were primed and treated with the intermediate resin as in the Group AM.

Group ZA: the zirconia substrates were primed and treated with the intermediate resin as in the Group AA.

Resin composite cement stubs (RelyX Arc, 3M ESPE, Seefeld, Germany) (diameter 3.6 mm, height 4.0 mm) were added to each of the substrates and photo-polymerized for 40 s (Optilux-501, Kerr, Orange CA, USA). Relyx ARC cement is based on silane treated silica particles and resin system based on triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) and bisphenola-a-glycidyldimetharylate (bisGMA). Thermocycling of 8000 times between 55±1ºC and 5±1ºC, water storage for four years at 37^oC and thermocycling combined with the water storage of four years were used as ageing methods. Dry specimens were used to form a control group. The shear bond strengths of the composite resin stubs to the substrates were measured with a crosshead speed of 1.0 mm/min (Lloyd Instruments LRX Material Testing Machine, Lloyd Instruments, Fareham, England) with a parallel knife-edge blade touching the interface of the ceramic and resin composite cylinder [5]. Multi-factorial analysis of variances (ANOVA) was used as a statistical method.

3. . RESULTS

Both thermocycling and water storage decreased significantly (p<0.001) the shear bond strength values compared to the control group (from the level of 20 MPa to 5 MPa) regardless of the used primer or the type of substrate (Fig. 1). Combination of four years water storage and thermocyling reduced the bond strength even more, to the level of two to three megapascals. There were no statistical differences of bond strengths between the used silanes or between the thermocyling or four-years water storage (p>0.05).

4. . DISCUSSION

The present study was originally planned in order to investigate the effect of long-term water storage on shear bond strength compared with other commonly used in vitro ageing method, namely thermocycling [6]. Thermocycling and water immersion for various periods of time have been used in numerous studies as an artificial ageing method [1-5]. On the other hand, it is also known the silane coupling agents after being polycondensated and formed initially durable bond between hydroxyl covered ceramic substrate and the intermediate resin, are prone for hydrolysis which can deteriorate adhesion in longer term [2, 7, 8]. This study, regardless of its limitation of using shear bond strength test, suggested that water immersion as such can cause considerable reduction in bonding of composite cement to alumina and zirconia. This is likely due to hydrolysis of polysiloxane network between the ceramic substrate and the polymerized intermediate resin. On the other hand, thermocycling caused repeated thermal expansion and contraction of the materials, which likely caused fatigue at the interphase, which resulted in reduction of bonding values. Combination of the two mechanisms of weakening of bond, i.e. hydrolysis and fatigue, demonstrated the highest drop in the bond strength found in the present study. Clinically, reduced bonding values by time could cause loosening of FDPs of different kinds. Based on our experience, critical shear bond strength for clinical success is estimated to be 18 – 20 MPa taking into consideration bonding surface area and direction and magnitude of stress. Thus, only control samples would have provided reliable bonding.

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