OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of a zirconia primer and a self-adhesive resin cement on the resin bonding zirconia.

METHODSEighty zirconia blocks were manufactured, alumina-sandblasted, and randomly divided into five groups that received surface-treatments using different resin cements: group C, treated with a conventional bisphenol-A diglycidyl dimethacrylate (Bis-GMA)-based resin cement; group R, treated with a self-adhesive resin cement; group S, silica-coated via a Sol-gel process, conditioned with silane, and then treated with the Bis-GMA-based resin cement; group ZC, conditioned with a zirconia primer (Z-Prime Plus) and subsequently treated with the Bis-GMA-based resin cement; group ZR, conditioned with the zirconia primer and treated with the self-adhesive resin cement. Light-cured composite resin cylinders were prepared and bonded on the prepared zirconia blocks. Half of the specimens in each group were water-stored for 24 hours, whereas the remaining specimens were aged by thermocycling. All specimens were then subjected to shear bond strength (SBS) testing. Fourier transmission infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (MS) were performed to characterize the zirconia primer.

RESULTSGroup C presented the lowest SBS, whereas groups R, ZC, and ZR presented the highest values. Thermocycling had no effect on SBS. FT-IR results showed that Z-Prime Plus contained a benzene ring and a carbonyl group. MS analysis showed that Z-Prime Plus contained 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, triethylamine.

CONCLUSIONZirconia primer and self-adhesive resin cement increase the resin bonding of zirconia.