Effect of composition, viscosity and thickness of the opaquer on the adhesion of resin composite to titanium

ObjectivesThe objectives of this study were to determine the bond strength of powder-liquid and paste opaquers with different chemical compositions and viscosity to a metal substructure when they were applied in two thicknesses and to evaluate the failure modes after the bond strength test.MethodsTitanium plates (51 mm × 25 mm × 1 mm) (nplates = 25, N = 80, n = 10 per group) were conditioned with chairside silica coating (CoJet-Sand, 30 μm silica coated Al2O3) from a distance of approximately 10 mm at a pressure of 2.8 bar for 15 s/cm2 and silanized. Four types of opaquers, namely one powder-liquid (Sinfony, 3 M ESPE), and three paste opaquers [(Cimara, Voco), (Monopaque, Ivoclar Vivadent), (Cavex Experimental, Cavex)] were applied either in 0.25 or 0.50 mm thicknesses using standard polyethylene molds and photo-polymerized. Resin composite (Quadrant Posterior Dense, Cavex) was applied incrementally and photo-polymerized. The specimens were thermocycled (5–55 °C, 6000 cycles) prior to shear bond strength test (1 mm/min). Failure types were analyzed using an optical microscope and scores were given according to the modified Adhesive Remnant Index (ARI) (Score 0 = no opaquer on the surface, Score 1 = <1/2 covered with opaquer, Score 2 = >1/2 covered with opaquer, Score 3 = completely covered with opaquer).ResultsWhile thickness did not significantly affect the bond strength results (p = 0.523), type of opaquers had a significant influence on the results (p < 0.01) (Univariate ANOVA, Tukey's test). Interaction terms between thickness and opaquer type were significant (p < 0.01). Debonded specimens during thermocycling were considered as 0 MPa. At both 0.25 and 0.5 mm thicknesses, powder-liquid based opaquer (Sinfony) showed significantly higher results (8.4 ± 5.6 and 8.4 ± 4.9 MPa, respectively) than those of other opaquers (1.4 ± 1 to 4.3 ± 3.8 MPa) (p < 0.05). Only when Cimara was applied in 0.25 mm (6.9 ± 4.2 MPa), there were no significant differences with Sinfony (p > 0.05). The lowest results in both thicknesses were obtained from Monopaque (4 ± 3.8 to 1.6 ± 1 MPa, respectively) and Cavex (1.4 ± 1 to 4.2 ± 2.9 MPa, respectively) paste opaquers. In all opaquers, the incidence of Score 0 (30) was more frequent followed by Score 1 (27) and Score 2 (20).SignificanceThe use of powder-liquid opaquer in order to mask the metal in repair actions provided higher bond strength than those of the paste opaquers in both thin and thick applications. In all opaquers, the incidence of adhesive failure between the opaquer and the metal was more common implying inadequate adhesion.