MICROSCOPIC AND ENERGY-DISPERSIVE X-RAY-ANALYSIS OF SURFACE ADAPTATION OF DENTAL CEMENTS TO DENTAL CERAMIC SURFACES

Statement of problem. Clinical failure rates reported for acid etched/ resin-bonded ceramic restorations are significantly lower than those r eported for restorations luted with traditional cements. This improved clinical performance may be associated with greater adaptation of the resin cements to the ceramic surfaces. Purpose. The objective of this study was to determine whether the use of resin cements accompanied b y acid etching results in improved adaptation when compared with the u se of zinc phosphate or glass ionomer cements. Results. The results of this experiment indicate that superior adaptation of cement to cerami c is produced by acid etching and luting with resin cement. In additio n, the results lead to the hypothesis that the high clinical failure r ates reported for zinc phosphate or glass ionomer luted restorations a re due either to incomplete adaptation or to failure within the cement . Conclusion. The findings indicate that the use of resin cements acco mpanied by acid etching of the ceramic surface is the preferred techni que for clinical placement of all-ceramic restorations.