Effect of vacuum plasma treatment on the shear bond strength of 3D-printed resin and self-adhesive resin cement

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of vacuum plasma treatment on the shear bond strength (SBS) of three-dimensional (3D)-printed resin and resin cement. Specimens were categorized based on airborne-particle abrasion (APA), plasma, and bonding agent treatments. Long-term adhesive stability was examined by comparing their SBSs before and after thermocycling. The group with the bonding agent applied after plasma treatment and before thermocycling exhibited the highest SBS of 23.9 +/- 2.2 MPa. No significant SBS difference was observed among the remaining groups, except for that subjected only to plasma treatment after thermocycling. The wettability of distilled water improved in the groups treated with plasma, whereas that of the bonding agent decreased in the group treated only with APA. Surface analysis revealed a roughened surface on the plasma-treated 3D-printed resin. Therefore, vacuum-plasma treatment before thermocycling can enhance the SBS of 3D-printed resin without compromising its properties.