Influence of fractional CO2 laser irradiation on temperature elevation and bonding strength of resin cement to the zirconia ceramic

Objectives: To investigate the effect of temperature elevation on the bonding strength of resin cement to the zirconia ceramic using fractional CO2 laser. Background: Fractional CO2 laser is an effective surface treatment of zirconia ceramic, as it increases the bonding strength of zirconia to resin cement. Methods: Thirty sintered zirconia discs (10 mm diameter, 2 mm thickness) were prepared and divided to three groups (N=10) and five diffident pulse durations were used in each group (0.1, 0.5, 1, 5 and 10 ms). Group A was treated with 10 W power setting, group B with 20 W and group C with 30 W. During laser irradiation, temperature elevation measurement was recorded for each specimen. Luting cement was bonded to the treated zirconia surfaces and cured for 30 seconds. Shear bond strength was evaluated by a testing machine (universal) with bond failure mode determination. Results: The lowest temperature elevation measurement of the irradiated specimen which gave maximum shear bond strength was about 1.6±0.3 Ċ higher than ambient room temperature (27±0.2 ºC). Apparent micromechanical irregularities were seen in the treated samples and cracks formation with increased pulse duration and power setting were also observed. Conclusions: The temperature elevation is a vital factor in the surface roughness of zirconia ceramic with fractional CO2 laser irradiation and the lowest temperature elevation at best shear bond strength of zirconia ceramic to the resin cement is satisfied with the shorter pulse duration of 0.1 millisecond.