title: Evaluation of the surface roughness of zirconia ceramics after different surface treatments.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate the effects of different mechanical surface treatments of pre-sintered zirconium oxide (ZrO2) in an attempt to improve its bonding potential.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and twenty IPS e-max ZirCAD (Ivoclar Vivadent) pre-sintered zirconia blocks (7 mm diameter, 3 mm height) received six different surface treatments (n = 20): Group C was untreated (control); Group E was Er:YAG laser irradiated; Group N was Nd:YAG laser irradiated; Group SB was sandblasted, Group SN was sandblasted and Nd:YAG laser irradiated; and Group SE was sandblasted and Er:YAG laser irradiated. After the surface treatments, the average surface roughness (Ra, µm) of each specimen was determined with a profilometer, then all the specimens were sintered. The surface roughness values were analysed through one-way ANOVA and Tukey's test. Changes in the morphological characteristics of ZrO2 were examined through scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sintered sandblasted, Er:YAG laser treatment, sandblasted + Er:YAG laser and sandblasted + Nd:YAG laser irradiation resulted in a rougher surface than the other treatments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nd:YAG laser irradiation alone was not effective in altering the zirconia surface morphology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Akdeniz University , Antalya , Turkey.
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kirmali
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akin
authors.forename: Alper
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kapdan
mesh_terms: D002516:Ceramics; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D013499:Surface Properties; D015040:Zirconium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D015040:Zirconium; C028541:zirconium oxide
keywords: Y-TZP zirconia; laser treatment; surface roughness; surface treatment