An investigation of Y-TZP surface characteristics and adhesive properties following treatment with Tri-biochemical Silica Coating, Femtosecond Laser, and Nano-hydroxyapatite: A scanning electron microscopy evaluation.

OBJECTIVES

To examine how advanced surface pretreatment techniques - Tribochemical silica coating (TBC), Femtosecond laser (FS), and Nano-hydroxyapatite (HA) coating - affect the surface roughness (Ra) and shear bond strength (SBS) between resin luting cement and Yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystals (Y-TZP).

METHODS

The lab-based comparative study was approved by the ethical committee of King Saud University under IRB number F98-971X9 and was completed in three months (June to September, 2024). Eighty-four YTZP zirconia discs were created and sorted into four groups based on different conditioning agents: Group-I (APA) as the control, Group-II (TBC), Group-III (FS laser), and Group-IV (Nano-HA coating). Ra was measured on five discs from each group using a profilometer, while surface topography was examined through SEM analysis. Ten specimens per group were bonded with luting cement, followed by SBS testing and fracture mode analysis using a universal testing machine and stereomicroscope, respectively. One-way ANOVA with post hoc Tukey tests (p<0.05) was used for statistical analysis of Ra and SBS means across the groups.

RESULTS

Group-IV (Nano-HA coating) exhibited the highest Ra and SBS values. Conversely, Group II (TBC) displayed the lowest Ra and weakest bond strength.

CONCLUSION

Nano-HA coating and FS laser can be employed as viable alternatives to APA without compromising the physical and mechanical properties of zirconia ceramic.