Er, Cr: YSGG, Nd: YVO4, and Ti: Sapphire Lasers for Surface Treatment of Hybrid Ceramics on Bond Durability, Surface Texture, and Debonding to Resin Cement: A Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) Analysis

Abstract

Aims: To assess composite ceramics treated with Er, Cr: YSGG (ECL), Nd: YVO4, and Ti: Sapphire lasers to samples treated with hydrofluoric acid (HF) and silane (S) for shear bond strength (SBS) and surface roughness (Ra). Material and Methods: 60 disc-shaped HRC specimens. Surface conditioning techniques divided HRC-prepared discs into four groups. Samples in Group 1: HRC pretreated with normal 9.5% HF, Group 2: ECL, Group 3: Ti-Sapphire, Group 4: Nd: YVO4. The profilometer measured all ceramic discs’ average surface Ra. Universal testing machines tested the resin-ceramic interface SBS. Surface topography was assessed using SEM. Shear bond scores and Ra were compared using a one-way ANOVA. A Tukey’s post hoc test assessed several group comparisons. Results: Group 2 (Ti Sapphire Laser+S) samples scored highest in Ra and SBS. Group 4 Nd: YVO4+S had the lowest Ra and SBS values. HF 20 sec+S, (Ti Sapphire Laser+S), (ECL+S), and (Nd: YVO4+S) had comparable SBS and Ra values (p>0.05). Conclusion: Laser-conditioned hybrid ceramics Er, Cr: YSGG, Nd: YVO4, and Ti-Sapphire lasers have shear bond strength and surface roughness comparable to 9.6% hydrofluoric acid.