The role of functional phosphoric acid ester monomers in the surface treatment of yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystals

This study aimed to evaluate the bond strength of a resin cement to yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystals (Y-TZPs) treated with three different phosphate functional monomers containing primers by measuring the water contact angle. Seventy Y-TZP discs were divided into seven experimental groups (n=10), including an untreated (control) group. Specimens were treated with one of the following monomers: MDP (MD), GPDM (GP), and Phenyl-P (PP). After primer application and air drying, half the treated specimens were ultrasonically cleaned in ethanol for 2 min (MD-e, GP-e, and PP-e), and contact angles were measured. The tensile bond strength test was performed after storage for 24 h in 37°C water. The contact angle on the MD-e surface (64°) was significantly higher than that on the Con, GP-e, and PP-e surfaces (51°–52°). The application of the MDP-containing primer resulted in significantly higher bond strength between Y-TZP ceramics and a resin cement.