Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different cleaning methods on the shear bond strength (SBS) of resin cement to contaminated zirconia specimens. Eighty rectangular-shaped specimens (2 x 5 x 10 mm) were fabricated from Zirconia blocks (IPS e.max ZirCAD) and randomly divided into 8 groups (n = 10). Group A (control) was not exposed to contaminants. The following tests specimens were contaminated with saliva and silicone indicating paste. Group B was coated with ceramic primer, then subjected to contamination. Groups C, D, E, F, G, and H were contaminated; cleaned with water rinse, Ivoclean, air particle abrasion, hydrofluoric acid, KATANA (TM) Cleaner and ZirClean (TM), respectively, and then coated with ceramic primer and bonded to dual cure resin cement cylinders. All the specimens were subjected to artificial aging and surviving specimens were subjected to the SBS test. For statistical analysis, ANOVA and multiple comparison methods at the 0.05 significance level were used. There was no statistically significant difference among Ivoclean (21.48 +/- 2.90 MPa), air particle abrasion (21.92 +/- 2.85 MPa), and the control group (24.68 +/- 5.46). The application of ceramic primer before contamination did not preserve the SBS of resin cement to zirconia. Cleaning the contaminated zirconia surface with hydrofluoric acid (15.03 +/- 3.63) or KATANA (TM) Cleaner (17.27 +/- 7.63) did not restore SBS to the uncontaminated state, but it was significantly higher than simply rinsing with water (12.46 +/- 5.17) or the use of ZirClean (TM) (11.59 +/- 5.53). The bond strength of resin cement to zirconia was influenced by cleaning methods.