Effect of Sandblasting, Silica Coating, and Erbium: Yttrium‑Aluminum‑Garnet Laser Treatment on the Shear Bond Strength of Self‑adhesive Resin Cement to Alumina Ceramics

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the different surface treatments on the bond strength of self‑adhesive resin cement to high‑strength ceramic. Materials and Methods: Ninety aluminum oxide ceramic (Turkom‑Ceramic Sdn. Bhd., Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) specimens were produced and divided into nine groups to receive the following surface treatments: control group, no treatment (Group C), sandblasting (Group B), silica coating (Group S), erbium: yttrium‑aluminum‑garnet (Er:YAG) laser irradiation at 150 mJ 10 Hz (Group L1), Er:YAG laser irradiation at 300 mJ 10 Hz (Group L2), sandblasting + L1 (Group BL1), sandblasting + L2 (Group BL2), silica coating + L1 (Group SL1), and silica coating + L2 (Group SL2). After surface treatments, surface roughness (SR) values were measured and surface topography was evaluated. Resin cement was applied on the specimen surface, and shear bond strength (SBS) tests were performed. Data were statistically analyzed using one‑way ANOVA and Tukey’s multiple comparisons at a significance level of P < 0.05. Results: Group S, SL1, and SL2 showed significantly increased SR values compared to the control group (P < 0.05); therefore, no significant differences were found among the SR values of Groups B, BL1, BL2, L1, and L2 and the control group (P > 0.05). Group S showed the highest SBS values, whereas the control group showed the lowest SBS values. Conclusion: Silica coating is the most effective method for resin bonding of high strength ceramic, but Er:YAG laser application decreased the effectiveness.Keywords: Alumina oxide ceramic, laser, resin cement, shear bond strength, silica coatin