Influence of resin removal treatments on the surface topography and strength of de-bonded lithium disilicate ceramic

Aim: This study aims to assess the influence of resin removal treatment regimes on the surface topography and compressive strength of de-bonded ceramic surfaces. Material and methods: Sixty-five lithium disilicate ceramic (LDC) discs were prepared, cleaned, and polished with carbide paper. All samples were etched using 9.6% hydrofluoric acid (HFA). Fifteen samples were taken as positive controls; the remaining 50 samples were subjected to the process of silanization. Resin build-up using dual-cure cement was performed incrementally and light cured. Based on different methods of resin cleaning from de-bonded LDC, the samples were divided into five groups, n=10 each: group 1 (no treatment), group 2 (slow-speed diamond bur), group 3 (1 min heat treatment), Group 4 (6 min heat treatment), and group 5 (sandblasting with Al2O3). Following resin removal, LDC samples were tested under compressive failure load in a universal testing machine. Five disc specimens from each group were sputter coated with gold for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s post hoc test was used for descriptive statistics. Level of significance was established at p<0.05. Results: The highest compressive strength with significant difference among all experimental groups was found in group 5 (321.54 ± 13.25 MPa) (p<0.05). The lowest compressive strength values, presenting significant difference compared with all other groups, were displayed in group 1 (158.57 ± 5.22 MPa) (p<0.05). Compressive strength among group 2 (231.54 ± 15.55 MPa), group 3 (237.81 ± 10.81 MPa), and group 4 (255.53 ± 8.95 MPa) specimens was statistically comparable (p>0.05). On SEM, heat-treated specimens confirmed coarser granules, with mild porosities and roughening, whereas sandblasted specimens exhibited consistent evenness with moderate porosity and loss of glazed surface. Conclusion: De-bonded LDC surface, treated with heat treatment and sandblasting procedures, exhibited removal of residual resin and significantly high compressive strength compared with non-cleansed ceramic surface.