In vitro effect of zirconia type on shear bond strength to feldspathic porcelain and wear of the opposing teeth.

Background: Multilayer zirconia has more optical and aesthetic features than regular zirconia. Therefore, its mechanical properties should be compared with monochromatic zirconia. Among the mechanical characteristics that can be checked are the wear of the opposite tooth and the bond to the porcelain. This study assessed the effect of zirconia type (multilayer versus monochromatic) on the shear bond strength (SBS) to feldspathic porcelain and the wear of the opposing teeth.

Methods: The present in vitro study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, 15 multilayer and 15 monochromatic zirconia blocks measuring 10×5×5 mm were designed, milled, sintered, veneered with porcelain, and underwent thermocycling. Their SBS was then measured in a universal testing machine. In the second phase, 15 multilayer and 15 monochromatic zirconia blocks were placed in a chewing simulator, and 30 sound premolars served as antagonistic teeth. The magnitude of wear of the buccal cusp of premolars was quantified from a 4-mm reference point after 100000 cycles. Data were analyzed by independent t test (α=0.05).

Results: The mean SBS of monochromatic zirconia to porcelain (24.49±3.58 MP) was slightly higher than that of multilayer zirconia (22.98±2.98 MP), but the difference was not significant (P>0.05). The mean wear of the opposing teeth was also slightly higher in the monochromatic group (284.1±66.53 µm) than in the multilayer group (263.2±58.69 µm), but this difference was not significant either (P>0.05).

Conclusion: Monochromatic and multilayer zirconia showed comparable SBS to feldspathic porcelain and caused comparable wear of the opposing teeth in vitro. Thus, multilayer zirconia may serve as an alternative to monochromatic zirconia.