INTRODUCTION

Ceramic materials have been used in den tistry for well over 200 years. They are the most bio-compatible of dental restorative materials, because they are chemically stable. Porcelain fused to metal systems were introduced in 1950s,the metal base, however, has esthetic limitations, such as reduced light transmission and discoloration. 2 9 These disadvantages have prompted the development of all ceramic systems that do not require metal support.

Increasing demand for esthetic restoratio ns has led to the greater use of all ceramic mate rials because of their improved bio-compatability and optical properties

compared with metal ceramic restorations. Advances in computer aided design and computer aided manufacturing systems dentistry, (CAD/CAM) creating an are providing new the options for

alternative to

conventional

impression and casting techniques for providing dental restorations. 4 4

Comtemporary restorative dentistry places a definitive emphasis on adhesion. Accordingly, long term survival of adhesive porcelain restorations depends on the surface of a reliable bond between the porcelain and the dental substrates. 2 5 A growing number of ceramic bonding systems are being introduced for cementing ceramic restorations. Most ceramic bonding systems consist of a silane primer, bonding agent and a resin based luting agent.

Resin-based composites are the material of choice for the adhesive luting of ceramic restorations. Composite cements have compositions and characteristics similar to conventional restorative composites and consist of

inorganic fillers embedded in an organic matrix for example Bis-GMA, TEGDMA, UDMA. The choice of a luting agent is dependent on the clinical situation combined with the physical, biologic, and handling properties of the luting agent. 5 1

Bond strength to the ceramic material is influenced by the composition of the ceramic substrate as well as by mechanical and chemical interaction between substrate and bonding agent. 6 6 Sucessful bonding systems typically

accomplish resin-dentin adhesion in three steps they are etching, priming and bonding resin application. The quality of resin dentin adhesion can greatly be influence d by the duration of etching process, and by the amount of dentin surface humidity following rinsing of the acid and prior to resin infiltration, therefore much of the current research and development in dentin adhesion aims to simplify the bonding procedures. Historically these developments started when the primer and bonding resin were combined in one bottle. This was followed by the development of so called self-etching primer that can etch and prime in one step. Finally, one step self-etch, or so called all-in-one adhesive was introduced combining the conditioning, priming and bonding resin in a single step. 5
2

The bonding of resin composite to ceramic materials plays an important role. To create a reliable bond between ceramic material and adhesive resins an increasing number of surface treatment methods were introduced, Commonly used surface treatments are grinding, abrasion with

diamond rotary instruments, air borne particle abrasion with aluminium oxide, acid etching silanization or a combination of these methods. 5 7 The micromechanical retention essential for proper bonding can be achieved by etching of porcelain surface with hydrofluoric acid and chemical bonding by use of silane coupling agents. A strong resin bond relies on micromechanical interlocking and chemical bonding to the ceramic surface and requires roughening and cleaning for adequate surface activation. 5 1

Etching selectively dissolves glassy or crystalline components of the ceramic and produce a porous irregular surface, 6 5 this would increase the suface area and facilitate the penetration of the resin in to the microretentions of the etched ceramic surfaces, thus improving wettability. 5 7 Silane coupling agents are capable of forming ch emical bonds with organic and inorganic surfaces. Bonding to the resin is affected by an addition polymerization reaction between methacrylate groups of the matrix resin and the silane molecule during curing of the composite. The bond between ceramics occurs by means of a condensation reaction between silanol group of the ceramic surface and the silanol group of hydrolysed silane molecule creating a silaxane
3

bond

and

producing

water

molecule

by-product. 3 0 of th e

moreover, silanization

would promote wetting

ceramic surface, thus enhancing the flow of the low viscosity resins. Hence a study has been taken to assess the type of bonding agent and method of surface treatment for a better bond between dentin and ceramic .

The study was conducted with following o bjectives: 1. To find out the shear bond strength between

CAD/CAM ceramic and dentin with a total etch bonding agent and < 5% hydrofluoric acid as surface treatment. 2. To find out the shear bond strength between

CAD/CAM ceramic and dentin with a self etch bonding agent and < 5% hydrofluoric acid as surface treatment. 3. To find out the shear bond strength between

CAD/CAM ceramic and dentin with a total etch bonding agent and < 5% hydrofluoric acid and silane coupling agent as surface treatments. 4. To find out the shear bond strength between

CAD/CAM ceramic and dentin with self etch bonding agent and < 5% hydrofluoric acid and silane coupling agent as surface treatments.