ABSTRACT
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Ceria-stabilized zirconia-alumina nanocomposite (Ce-TZP-Al2O3) has properties that may be suitable for partial denture frameworks. However, studies on its adhesion strength and durability with denture base resin are lacking. PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to determine the optimal surface treatment for Ce-TZP-Al2O3 to secure a durable bond with an acrylic resin. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The surface of Ce-TZP-Al2O3 test specimens was alumina airborne-particle abraded (Group APA) and then treated with 10-methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate (MDP) (Group MDP) and 2 silica coating methods: the flame spraying method (Group SLP) and the tribochemical treatment (110 µm: Group TRB-P, 30 µm: Group TRB-S). TRB-P and TBR-S were further treated by MDP (Group CBT-P and CBT-S). Autopolymerizing acrylic resin was bonded to the specimens, and the shear bond strength was tested after thermocycling (5 °C and 60 °C, 10 000 cycles). The area of the resin remaining on the fractured surfaces was also measured. To evaluate the effect of the surface treatment condition on shear bond strength and the resin remaining, 1-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted, followed by the Tukey multiple comparison post hoc test. Additionally, the effect of thermocycling on the specimens was evaluated by the Student t test. RESULTS: After placement in deionized water for 24 hours, the shear bond strengths of Group MDP and 2 types of combination treatment (Groups CBT-P and CBT-S) were significantly higher than those of Groups SLP, TRB-P, and TRB-S (P<.05). Moreover, the fractured surface of all the treatment conditions except Group APA showed cohesive failure. The shear bond strength as a result of all treatment conditions decreased significantly after thermocycling (P<.05). Group CBT-S showed the highest shear bond strength; however, no significant differences were found between Groups CBT-S and MDP (P=.908). In particular, the area of resin remaining on the fractured surfaces of Group CBT-S was 100% (cohesive failure). CONCLUSIONS: The combined surface treatment of alumina airborne-particle abrasion and tribochemical treatment, along with primer treatment using silane coupling and an MDP monomer, improved the adhesion strength and adhesion durability between base resins and Ce-TZP-Al2O3.