Effects of Light-Curing on the Immediate and Delayed Micro-Shear Bond Strength between Yttria-Tetragonal Zirconia Polycrystal Ceramics and Universal Adhesive

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of light-curing on the immediate and delayed micro-shear bond strength (${\mu}SBS$) between yttria-tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (Y-TZP) ceramics and RelyX Ultimate when using Single Bond Universal (SBU). Materials and Methods: Y-TZP ceramic specimens were ground with #600-grit SiC paper. SBU was applied and RelyX Ultimate was mixed and placed on the Y-TZP surface. The specimens were divided into three groups depending on whether light curing was done after adhesive (SBU) and resin cement application: uncured after adhesive and uncured after resin cement application (UU); uncured after adhesive, but light cured after resin cement (UC); and light cured after adhesive and light cured resin cement (CC). The three groups were further divided depending on the timing of ${\mu}SBS$ testing: immediate at 24 hours (UUI, UCI, CCI) and delayed at 4 weeks (UUD, UCD, CCD). ${\mu}SBS$ was statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Student-Newman-Keuls multiple comparison test (P<0.05). The surface of the fractured Y-TZP specimens was analyzed under a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Result: At 24 hours, ${\mu}SBS$ of UUI group ($8.60{\pm}2.06MPa$) was significantly lower than UCI group ($25.71{\pm}4.48MPa$) and CCI group ($29.54{\pm}3.62MPa$) (P<0.05). There was not any significant difference between UCI and CCI group (P>0.05). At 4 weeks, ${\mu}SBS$ of UUD group ($24.43{\pm}2.88MPa$) had significantly increased over time compared to UUI group (P<0.05). The SEM results showed mixed failure in UCI and CCI group, while UUI group showed adhesive failure. Conclusion: Light-curing of universal adhesive before or after application of RelyX Ultimate resin cement significantly improved the immediate ${\mu}SBS$ of resin cement to air-abrasion treated Y-TZP surface. After 4 weeks, the delayed ${\mu}SBS$ of the non-light curing group significantly improved to the level of light-cured groups.