Influence of heating rate on the flexural strength of monolithic zirconia

PURPOSE: Fabrication of zirconia restorations with ideal mechanical properties in a short period is a great challenge for clinicians. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of heating rate on the mechanical and microstructural properties of monolithic zirconia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty monolithic zirconia specimens were prepared from presintered monolithic zirconia blanks. All specimens were then assigned to 4 groups according to heating rate as Control, Group 15℃, Group 20℃, and Group 40℃. All groups were sintered according to heating rates with the sintering temperature of 1500℃, a holding time of 90 minutes and natural cooling. The phase composition was examined by XRD analysis, three-point bending test was conducted to examine the flexural strength, and Weibull analysis was conducted to determine weibull modulus and characteristic strength. Average grain sizes were determined by SEM analysis. One-way ANOVA test was performed at a significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: Only tetragonal phase characteristic peaks were determined on the surface of analyzed specimens. Differences among the average grain sizes of the groups were not statistically significant. The results of the three-point bending test revealed no significant differences among the flexural strength of the groups (P>.05). Weibull modulus of groups was ranging from 3.50 to 4.74. The highest and the lowest characteristic strength values were obtained in Group 20℃ and Control Group, respectively. CONCLUSION: Heating rate has no significant effect on the flexural strength of monolithic zirconia. Monolithic zirconia restorations can be produced in shorter sintering periods without affecting the flexural strength by modifying the heating rate.

Evaluation of the bond strength between aged composite cores and luting agent

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate effect of different surface treatment methods on the bond strength between aged composite-resin core and luting agent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-five resin composites and also seventy-five zirconia ceramic discs were prepared. 60 composite samples were exposed to thermal aging (10,000 cycles, 5 to 55degrees C) and different surface treatment. All specimens were separated into 5 groups (n=15): 1) Intact specimens 2) Thermal aging-air polishing 3) Thermal aging- Er:YAG laser irradiation 4) Thermal aging- acid etching 5) Thermal-aging. All specimens were bonded to the zirconia discs with resin cement and fixed to universal testing machine and bond strength testing loaded to failure with a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. The fractured surface was classified as adhesive failure, cohesive failure and adhesive-cohesive failure. The bond strength data was statistically compared by the Kruskal-Wallis method complemented by the Bonferroni correction Mann-Whitney U test. The probability level for statistical significance was set at alpha=.05. RESULTS: Thermal aging and different surface treatment methods have significant effect on the bond strength between composite-resin cores and luting-agent (P<.05). The mean baseline bond strength values ranged between 7.07 +/- 2.11 and 26.05 +/- 6.53 N. The highest bond strength of 26.05 +/- 6.53 N was obtained with Group 3. Group 5 showed the lowest value of bond strength. CONCLUSION: Appropriate surface treatment method should be applied to aged composite resin cores or aged-composites restorations should be replaced for the optimal bond strength and the clinical success.

Evaluation of the bond strength between aged composite cores and luting agent

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate effect of different surface treatment methods on the bond strength between aged composite-resin core and luting agent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-five resin composites and also seventy-five zirconia ceramic discs were prepared. 60 composite samples were exposed to thermal aging (10,000 cycles, 5 to 55degrees C) and different surface treatment. All specimens were separated into 5 groups (n=15): 1) Intact specimens 2) Thermal aging-air polishing 3) Thermal aging- Er:YAG laser irradiation 4) Thermal aging- acid etching 5) Thermal-aging. All specimens were bonded to the zirconia discs with resin cement and fixed to universal testing machine and bond strength testing loaded to failure with a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. The fractured surface was classified as adhesive failure, cohesive failure and adhesive-cohesive failure. The bond strength data was statistically compared by the Kruskal-Wallis method complemented by the Bonferroni correction Mann-Whitney U test. The probability level for statistical significance was set at alpha=.05. RESULTS: Thermal aging and different surface treatment methods have significant effect on the bond strength between composite-resin cores and luting-agent (P<.05). The mean baseline bond strength values ranged between 7.07 +/- 2.11 and 26.05 +/- 6.53 N. The highest bond strength of 26.05 +/- 6.53 N was obtained with Group 3. Group 5 showed the lowest value of bond strength. CONCLUSION: Appropriate surface treatment method should be applied to aged composite resin cores or aged-composites restorations should be replaced for the optimal bond strength and the clinical success.

The effect of repeated firings on the color change and surface roughness of dental ceramics

PURPOSE: The color of the ceramic restorations is affected by various factors such as brand, thickness of the layered the ceramic, condensation techniques, smoothness of surface, number of firings, firing temperature and thickness of dentin. The aim of this study was to evaluate the color change and surface roughness in dental porcelain with different thicknesses during repeated firings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Disc-shaped (N=21) metal-ceramic samples (IPS Classic; Ivoclar Vivadent; Shaar, Liechtenstein) with different thickness were exposed to repeated firings. Color measurement of the samples was made using a colorimeter and profilometer was used to determine surface roughness. ANOVA and Tukey tests with repeated measurements were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The total thickness of the ceramics which is less than 2 mm significantly have detrimental effect on the surface properties and color of porcelains during firings (P<.05). CONCLUSION: Repeated firings have effects on the color change and surface roughness of the dental ceramics and should be avoided.

The effect of repeated firings on the color change of dental ceramics using different glazing methods

PURPOSE: Surface color is one of the main criteria to obtain an ideal esthetic. Many factors such as the type of the material, surface specifications, number of firings, firing temperature and thickness of the porcelain are all important to provide an unchanged surface color in dental ceramics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the color changes in dental ceramics according to the material type and glazing methods, during the multiple firings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three different types of dental ceramics (IPS Classical metal ceramic, Empress Esthetic and Empress 2 ceramics) were used in the study. Porcelains were evaluated under five main groups according to glaze and natural glaze methods. Color changes (DeltaE) and changes in color parameters (DeltaL, Deltaa, Deltab) were determined using colorimeter during the control, the first, third, fifth, and seventh firings. The statistical analysis of the results was performed using ANOVA and Tukey test. RESULTS: The color changes which occurred upon material-method-firing interaction were statistically significant (P<.05). DeltaE, DeltaL, Deltaa and Deltab values also demonstrated a negative trend. The MC-G group was less affected in terms of color changes compared to other groups. In all-ceramic specimens, the surface color was significantly affected by multiple firings. CONCLUSION: Firing detrimentally affected the structure of the porcelain surface and hence caused fading of the color and prominence of yellow and red characters. Compressible all-ceramics were remarkably affected by repeated firings due to their crystalline structure.