Is there a correlation between physical properties and film thickness of dual- and photo-polymerized resin cements and CAD/CAM-dentin micro-tensile bond strength?

Abstract

To correlate µTBS of different resin cements with their film thickness (FT), Vickers hardness (HV), and ultimate tensile strength (UTS). Human molars (N = 30) were divided into six-groups according to 1: Resin cement: Bifix QM, (BF), GrandioSo Heavy Flow (GHF) and VisCalor Bulk (VB), and 2: Adhesive mode (Optibond Universal): Etch-and-rinse (E&R) or self-etching (SE). CAD/CAM blocks (7 × 7 × 4 mm3) were air-abraded using 50 μm Al2O3 and silane was applied (60 s), and air dried (10 s). For E&R, dentin was etched (15 s), rinsed (30 s), and blot-dried. For both modes, adhesive was applied (20 s), air-dried (5 s), and photo-polymerized (10 s). Sticks (1 × 1 mm2) were stored for 24-h or 6-months. Sticks were pulled in tension (1 mm/min). Debonded sticks were evaluated for failure mode analysis. For FT, nine-bonded slabs from each cement was prepared and evaluated. For UTS, eight-hourglass specimens from each cement were prepared and tested in tension. For HV, five-discs from each cement was prepared and evaluated using a HV tester. Data were analyzed using ANOVA/Pearson's correlation tests (α = 0.05). No correlation between µTBS/HV was revealed (p > 0.05). A positive correlation between µTBS/FT and µTBS/UTS (p < 0.05) was observed. Three-way ANOVA revealed all experimental factors had a significant effect on µTBS (p < 0.05). The VB showed significantly lower µTBS (20.8 ± 9.3 MPa). The E&R mode showed higher µTBS (26.0 ± 10.9 MPa), and 24-h revealed a higher µTBS (27.4 ± 10.0 MPa). Mixed failure was the predominant type (42.51%). The VB showed the highest FT (122.2 ± 11.9 µm), with GHF revealed higher UTS and HV (112.5 ± 19.7 MPa and 91.6 ± 0.4 Kgf, respectively). Photo-polymerized flowable composite can substitute dual-polymerized cement for CAD/CAM composite bonding.