Myth #1: You Can’t Bond to Zirconia.
There are myths that you can’t bond to zirconia. In fact, bonding of zirconia restorations is easy, but different to glass ceramics. Important to know: The zirconia surface is chemically very different to silica based glass ceramics. Silanes do not bond to zirconia, but phosphate monomers or polyacids bond very strong to zirconia (and do not to glass ceramics!). Such monomers are used in cement or bonding systems developed for zirconia. Further, a key to getting strong zirconia bonding is proper preparation of the intaglio surface. Initially, with sandblasting but also important after try-in to clean saliva. Why is this so crucial? Zirconia has oxide groups which bond to phosphate groups in your dental cement; However, when you try-in the crown, that process brings the zirconia into contact with saliva, which just so happens to contain a good deal of phosphate as well. These phosphate groups from the saliva will grab on to the oxide groups on the zirconia and make it impossible for bonding to take place. That’s why it’s vital to clean the intaglio after try-in either by sandblasting or by wiping the inside of the restoration with gauze soaked in 5% sodium hypochlorite, rinse with water and air dry. For additional content on this topic, give
this roundtable discussion a read. Remember: Zirconia can be seated conventional for many clinical situations. This is ideal when moisture tolerance is needed.