Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of saliva contamination and cleaning methods on adhesive bonding to dental zirconia ceramic with a phosphate-monomer-containing luting resin.
Methods: After saliva immersion, airborne-particle abraded ceramic specimens were cleaned with water rinsing, with isopropanol, with phosphoric acid gel, or with additional airborne-particle abrasion. Airborne-particle abraded specimens without contamination were used as the control group. Chemical analysis of the ceramic surfaces of all groups was done using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The influence of contamination and cleaning methods on ceramic bond durability was examined by tensile bond strength (TBS) testing after 3 days or 150 days water storage with 37,500 thermal cycles.
Results: After saliva contamination XPS revealed an organic coating which was not removed completely with water rinsing, with isopropanol, or with phosphoric acid. Using TBS testing a strong influence of contamination and cleaning methods on resin bond strength and its durability was found.
Significance: Saliva contamination significantly affected resin bonds to zirconia ceramic and its durability. Airborne-particle abrasion was the most effective cleaning method.