Tensile Bond Strength of Porcelain Teeth to Denture Resin Before and After Aging

Purpose: This in vitro study compared the effects of four surface treatment on the bond strength between porcelain dentu re teeth and heat-polymerized denture base acrylic with and without a ceramic primer and bonding agent and after three storage conditions. Materials and Methods: Polished porcelain specimens (120) were divided into 24 groups of five each as follows: surface treatments (none, etched, sandblasted, and air abraded), ceramic primer and bonding agent (yes and no), and storage conditions (water storage, thermocycling, and accelerated aging). All the specimens were tested to failure in tension on a testing machine. Results: Hydrofluoric acid etching, sandblasting, and air abrasion did not improve the bond strength of specimens without ceramic primer and bonding agent compared to those polished with 600-grit silicon carbide paper. Use of ceramic primer and light-activated bonding agent (Scotchbond MP) increased the bond strength. For thermocycled specimens treated with ceramic primer and bonding agent, the bond strengths ranged from 10 to 31 MPa in the following order: air abraded = etched no treatment sandblasted. Conclusions: Ceramic primer and bonding agent dramatically improved the bond strength of porcelain teeth to heat-polymerized denture resin. Sandblasting improved bond strength of bonded samples compared to those that were etched or polished only.