The Influence of Different Convergence Angles and Resin Cements on the Retention of Zirconia Copings

Purpose: This in vitro study aimed to determine the ability of three resin cements to retain zirconia copings under two clinically simulated conditions. Materials and Methods: Extracted human molars (72) were collected, cleaned, and divided into two groups. All teeth were prepared with a 15 degrees total convergence angle for group 1 and a 30 degrees total convergence angle for group 2, a flat occlusal surface, and approximately 4-mm axial length. Each group was divided by surface area into three subgroups (n = 12). All zirconia copings were abraded with 50-mu m Al2O3, then cemented using Panavia F 2.0 (PAN-1) (PAN-2) Rely X Unicem (RXU-1) (RXU-2), and Clearfil SA (CSA-1) (CSA-2). After cementation, the copings were thermocycled for 5000 cycles between 5 degrees C and 55 degrees C with a 15-second dwell time. Then the copings were subjected to dislodgment force in a universal testing machine at 0.5 mm/min. The force of removal was recorded, and the dislodgement stress was calculated. A Kruskal-Wallis test (nonparametric ANOVA) was used to analyze the data (alpha = 0.05), and the nature of failure was also recorded. Results: The mean (SD) coping removal stresses (MPa) were as follows: PAN-1: 6.0 (1.3), CSA-1: 4.8 (1.4), RXU-1: 5.5 (2.3), PAN-2: 2.8 (1.1), CSA-2: 3.0 (1.25), and RXU-2: 2.6 (1.2). The Kruskal-Wallis test was significant. Mann-Whitney pairwise comparisons of the subgroups were significant (p<0.05) for the comparisons between subgroups of group 1 and group 2. Mode of failure was mixed, with cement remaining principally on the tooth for PAN. For CSA and RXU, mode of failure was mixed with cement remaining principally on the zirconia copings. Conclusions: Retention values of zirconia copings with three different resin cements were not significantly different. Retention of zirconia copings cemented on the teeth with adequate resistance and retention form was higher than that cemented on teeth lacking these forms. The cement remained mostly on the tooth with the adhesive resin cement with a dentin bonding system. The cement remained mostly on the coping with the self-adhesive resin cement.