Purpose: This study investigated tensile bond strength to zirconia after different surface treatments and effects of chemical conditioning.
Methods: 64 Zirconia discs were fabricated and categorized according to the applied surface treatment into four groups: as milled, sandblasted with AL2O3, treated with ammonium bifluoride, and treated with hydrofluoric acid in the form of zirconia etchant cloud system. Followed by primer application to half of the specimens or no primer application to the other half, left with only surface treatment. Composite resin discs were fabricated and bonded to zirconia using adhesive resin cement. All specimens were artificially aged. Statistical analysis was done with a post hoc test using LSD.
Results: The surface treatment did not show a significant difference between all tested groups (P value = 0.467). While the chemical conditioning showed a significant effect on the tensile bond strength measurements (P value = 0.014). No interaction effect exists between surface treatment and chemical conditioning (P value = 0.144).
Conclusion: Sandblast and hydrofluoric acid resulted in roughening zirconia surfaces and were confirmed by SEM. Chemical conditioning has a significant effect on the bond strength of resin cement to zirconia ceramic.