The Effect of Thermocycling and Surface Treatments on the Surface Roughness and Microhardness of Three Heat-Pressed Ceramics Systems

Dental ceramic restorations are widely used in restorative dentistry. However, these restorations can be affected once cemented in the oral cavity by several factors. How can conventional surface treatments, such as glazing and mechanical polishing, diminish the effects of aging? The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of thermocycling and conventional surface treatments on the surface roughness and microhardness of three types of glass-ceramics by using a profilometer, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and a microhardness tester. Three types of ceramic systems (zirconia reinforced lithium silicate glass-ceramic, lithium disilicate glass-ceramic, and feldspathic glass-ceramic) (n = 48) were prepared. The samples were subjected to thermocycling for 10,000 cycles. Surface roughness was evaluated numerically using a profilometer and visually by using SEM and AFM. Microhardness was performed using a microhardness tester. The data were interpreted using the ANOVA test, and the results were correlated using Pearson’s correlation formula (r). Significant differences were found before and after thermocycling for the Ra (p < 0.01) and Rz (p < 0.05) parameters. As well, differences between glazed and polished surfaces were significant before and after thermocycling for surface roughness and microhardness (p < 0.05). A correlation was made between average surface roughness and microhardness (r = −460) and for the maximum surface roughness and microhardness (r = −606). Aging increases the roughness and decreases in time the microhardness. The tested ceramic systems behaved differently to the aging and surface treatments. Surface treatments had a significant impact on the microhardness and surface characteristics. The glazed groups were reported with higher surface roughness and lower microhardness when compared to the polished groups before and after thermocycling. The measuring roughness techniques determine the scale-dependent values for the Ra (Sa) and Rz (Sq) parameters. Thermocycling almost doubled the surface roughness for all the tested samples. Microhardness decreased only for the Celtra glazed samples. Nano-roughness increased the values for Vita and slightly for Emax. Thermocycling had little effect on Emax ceramic and a more significant impact on Celtra Press ceramic.