Effect of etching and airborne particle abrasion on the microstructure of different dental ceramics.
BACKGROUND
The ceramic composition and microstructure surface of all-ceramic restorations are important components of an effective bonding substrate. Both hydrofluoric acid etching and airborne aluminum oxide particle abrasion produce irregular surfaces necessary for micromechanical bonding. Although surface treatments of feldspathic and leucite porcelains have been studied previously, the high alumina-containing and lithium disilicate ceramics have not been fully investigated.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to assess the surface topography of 6 different ceramics after treatment with either hydrofluoric acid etching or airborne aluminum oxide particle abrasion.


METHODS
Five copings each of IPS Empress, IPS Empress 2 (0.8 mm thick), Cergogold (0.7 mm thick), In-Ceram Alumina, In-Ceram Zirconia, and Procera (0.8 mm thick) were fabricated following the manufacturer's instructions. Each coping was longitudinally sectioned into 4 equal parts by a diamond disk. The resulting sections were then randomly divided into 3 groups depending on subsequent surface treatments: Group 1, specimens without additional surface treatments, as received from the laboratory (control); Group 2, specimens treated by use of airborne particle abrasion with 50-microm aluminum oxide; and Group 3, specimens treated with 10% hydrofluoric acid etching (20 seconds for IPS Empress 2; 60 seconds for IPS Empress and Cergogold; and 2 minutes for In-Ceram Alumina, In-Ceram Zirconia, and Procera).


RESULTS
Airborne particle abrasion changed the morphologic surface of IPS Empress, IPS Empress 2, and Cergogold ceramics. The surface topography of these ceramics exhibited shallow irregularities not evident in the control group. For Procera, the 50-microm aluminum oxide airborne particle abrasion produced a flattened surface. Airborne particle abrasion of In-Ceram Alumina and In-Ceram Zirconia did not change the morphologic characteristics and the same shallows pits found in the control group remained. For IPS Empress 2, 10% hydrofluoric acid etching produced elongated crystals scattered with shallow irregularities. For IPS Empress and Cergogold, the morphologic characteristic was honeycomb-like on the ceramic surface. The surface treatment of In-Ceram Alumina, In-Ceram Zirconia, and Procera did not change their superficial structure.


CONCLUSIONS
Hydrofluoric acid etching and airborne particle abrasion with 50-microm aluminum oxide increased the irregularities on the surface of IPS Empress, IPS Empress 2, and Cergogold ceramics. Similar treatment of In-Ceram Alumina, In-Ceram Zirconia, and Procera did not change their morphologic microstructure.
Borges
Gilberto Antonio
GA
Department of Dental Materials, University of Uberaba, Brazil.
Sophr
Ana Maria
AM
de Goes
Mario Fernando
MF
Sobrinho
Lourenço Correr
LC
Chan
Daniel C N
DC
D000134:Acid Etching, Dental; D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D000538:Aluminum Silicates / Q000737:chemistry; D002516:Ceramics / Q000737:chemistry*; D003461:Crystallography; D001840:Dental Bonding; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D003776:Dental Porcelain / Q000737:chemistry; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D006801:Humans; D006858:Hydrofluoric Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D016876:Metal Ceramic Alloys / Q000737:chemistry; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry; D015040:Zirconium / Q000737:chemistry
D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D003764:Dental Materials; C075815:IPS-Empress ceramic; D016876:Metal Ceramic Alloys; C077451:Procera; D003776:Dental Porcelain; C070870:In-Ceram; D015040:Zirconium; D014025:Titanium; D000537:Aluminum Oxide; D006858:Hydrofluoric Acid; C028541:zirconium oxide