Nonthermal Plasma Treatment Can Eliminate Sandblasting Procedure For Zirconia-Resin Cement Bonding.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of nonthermal atmospheric plasma (NTAP) treatment, alone or combined with sandblasting and/or primer application, on the bonding of zirconia ceramics to resin cement. Materials and Methods: A total of 420 discs of Y-TZP (2 x 15 x 12 mm) were prepared and randomly divided into 10 groups according to surface treatment, as follows: Z (control), SB (sandblasting), Pr (primer), SBPr (sandblasting + primer), P (NTAP), SBP (sandblasting + NTAP), PrP (primer + NTAP), SBPrP (sandblasting + primer + NTAP), PPr (NTAP + primer), and SBPPr (sandblasting + NTAP + primer). After surface treatments, the surface roughness values were evaluated using a profilometer, and the contact angle measurements were performed using a goniometer. Surface characterizations of the groups were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses. Shear bond strength tests were performed after adhesive cementation in 20 specimens per group, with half (n = 10) subjected to thermocycling (5,000 cycles, 5°C to 55°C). The failure mode was recorded by examining each specimen using a stereomicroscope. One-way and two-way ANOVA followed by Student-Newman-Keuls test (α = .05) were used to analyze the data statistically. RESULTS: Untreated zirconia surfaces (without sandblasting) were found to have a higher wettability and oxygen ratio after NTAP treatment. The clinical application order of NTAP is an important factor, and the best combination for bonding quality was NTAP treatment followed by primer application on untreated zirconia (group PPr), rather than on a sandblasted surface. Conclusion: NTAP application may be a promising surface treatment method for adhesive cementation of zirconia ceramics as an alternative to sandblasting. To achieve strong adhesion, NTAP should be applied before primer aplication.

Bacterial adhesion of porphyromonas gingivalis on provisional fixed prosthetic materials.

BACKGROUND: When provisional restorations are worn for long term period, the adhesion of bacteria becomes a primary factor in the development of periodontal diseases. The aims of this study were to evaluate the surface roughness and bacterial adhesion of four different provisional fixed prosthodon-tic materials. METHODS: Ten cylindrical specimens were prepared from bis-acrylic composites (PreVISION CB and Protemp 3 Garant), a light-polymerized composite (Revotek LC), and a polymethyl methacrylate-based (Dentalon) provisional fixed prosthodontic materials. Surface roughness was assessed by profilometry. The bacterial adhesion test was applied using Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) and spectro-fluorometric method. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA and Dunnett t-tests. RESULTS: All tested materials were significantly rougher than glass (P < 0.05). Revotek LC had the greatest fluorescence intensity, PreVISION and Protemp 3 Garant had moderate values and all of them had significantly more bacterial adhesion compared to glass (P < 0.05). Dentalon had the lowest fluorescence intensity among the provisional fixed prosthodontic materials. CONCLUSION: The quantity of bacterial adhesion and surface roughness differed among the assessed provisional fixed prosthodontic materials. The light-polymerized provisional material Revotek LC had rougher surface and more bacterial adhesion compared with the others.