The effect of dual cure activator on self-adhesive resin cements and zirconia shear bond strength

This study intentionally examines the impact of DCA when applied in combination with various self-adhesive resin cements on the zirconia surface by evaluating their shear bond strengths (SBSs). Sixty zirconia samples were prepared and sintered in compliance with the manufacturer's directions. The specimens were randomly assigned to each group in the manner described under the dark condition, following dual cure activator (DCA) and self-adhesive resin cements [RelyX universal resin cement (RXS); Maxcem elite chroma (MAC); Panavia SA cement multi (PSM)]; group 1, RXS; group 2, MAC; group 3, PSM; group 4, DCA + RXS; group 5, DCA + MAC; and group 6, DCA + PSM. The resin composite rod was fixed to the zirconia surface-treated and maintained in a dark container for a duration of 30 minutes. Subsequently, the specimens were put in distilled water and kept in an incubator at a temperature of 37 degrees Celsius for a duration of 24 hours. The AGS-X 500N universal metering device was employed to compute the bond strength data. A stereomicroscope was used to analyze the fractured types. The data was subjected to statistical analysis employing the one-way ANOVA and Tukey's test. Group 2 had the lowest SBS (4.93 ± 0.53 MPa) compared to all groups. However, group 1 (11.17 ± 0.86 MPa) and group 3 (11.48 ± 1.17 MPa), which were untreated DCA groups, were not significantly different in SBS. Group 6 (15.61 ± 0.68 MPa) had the highest SBS but was not significantly different from group 4 (15.45 ± 1.20 MPa). Group 5 (9.94 ± 0.67 MPa) had the lowest SBS compared to all DCA treated groups. Findings from this study show that treating the zirconia surface with DCA before using the self-curing mode of self-adhesive resin cement is the best way to improve the bond between zirconia and self-adhesive resin cement.