ABSTRACT
Objectives: To evaluate the effect of silane application and silane heat treatment on lithium-disilicate ceramic when bonded to composite resin
Methods: Twelve blocks of lithium-disilicate [LD] ceramic were fabricated and bonding surfaces were etched using 9.5% hydrofluoric acid [90 seconds]. Three experimental groups resulted from the various surface treatment combinations, which included, no silane application [NS] [controls], silane application [S] and silane heat treatment [HS] [100 degree C for 5 minutesutes]. Ceramic and composite resin blocks were bonded using an adhesive resin and light cured restorative composite as a luting agent, under standard conditions. A total of 90 specimen sticks [8 x 1mm[2]] were subjected to micro-tensile bond strength testing. The means of micro-tensile bond strength [micro-tbs] of the study groups were analyzed using t-test and ANOVA. The tested specimens were analyzed for mode of failure using scanning electron microscopy [SEM]
Results: The highest micro-tbs value [42.6 +/- 3.70 MPa] was achieved for LD ceramics with heat-dried silane. Both silane application and heat treatment of silane resulted in significant [p<0.05] improvements in micro-tensile bond strength of LD ceramics when bonded to resin composite
Conclusions: The application of silane and its heat treatment showed significant improvement in bond strength of lithium disilicate ceramic when bonded to composite