The effect of monowave and polywave light-polymerization units on the adhesion of resin cements to zirconia.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Although newly developed photoinitiators can make up for the limitations of camphorquinone, their absorption spectra are different. However, little attention has been paid to the compatibility of available wavelength spectra of light-polymerization units (LPUs) and photoinitiators within resin cements.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of monowave and polywave light-emitting diode (LED) units on the adhesion of dual-polymerizing self-adhesive resin cements to monolithic zirconia.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Monowave LPUs and polywave LPUs were chosen to polymerize 2 dual-polymerizing self-adhesive resin cements. Ninety-six zirconia disks were randomly divided into 4 groups as different combinations of LPUs and resin cements, namely ES-U200, BS-U200, ES-SC, and BS-SC. Resin cements were adhered to zirconia disks, and the microshear bond strength (μSBS) test was conducted after 24 hours of H2 O storage (24 h) and 10 000 thermal cycles (10k/TC). Failure modes were examined by stereomicroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The degree of conversion (DC) was tested both immediately and 24 hours later. In statistical analyses, 2-way ANOVA and the Tukey honestly significant difference post hoc test were performed for μSBS and DC results, and chi-square test was performed for failure mode analysis (α=.05 for all tests).

RESULTS: The 2-way ANOVA demonstrated that different combinations of LPUs and resin cements, as well as different artificial aging levels, significantly influenced microshear bond strength values (P<.001). The interactions between 2 factors were also significant (P<.001). The BS-SC group possessed relatively high bond strength in both 24-hour and 10k/TC aging levels. For the same resin cement, no significant difference was found in the immediate DC (P=.405 for U200 and P=.708 for SC). At 24 hours, DC and BS-U200 values were significantly higher than ES-U200 values (P=.002), whereas BS-SC values were not significantly different from ES-SC values (P=.284).

CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitation of this in vitro study, the emission spectra of LED units significantly influenced the bond strengths, DC, and failure mode of dual-polymerizing self-adhesive resin cements to zirconia at both immediate and artificial aging levels. The LPU should provide light energy to match the absorption wavelengths of photoinitiators in the resin cements.