OBJECTIVES: To evaluate bond strength between zirconium oxide and different resin composite cements by means of shear testing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 130 Lava TM ceramic cylinders were fabricated. These were sandblasted with 80µm aluminum oxide or with Cojet Sand. A silane coupling agent, adhesive and/or Clearfil Ceramic Primer were applied. 130 resin composite cement cylinders were bonded, selecting different bond techniques, two with dual polymerization (Variolink II and Panavia F) and two with self-polymerizing cements (Rely X and Multilink). Shear bond testing was carried out, and samples were subjected to optical microscope examination in order to locate and classify the type of bond failure. The statistical examination were performed with the Mann Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis and student t tests (á=0.05).
RESULTS: The two most successful combinations were Lava + Sandblasting + Clearfil SE Bond Primer + Porcelain Activator + Panavia F and Lava + Cojet + Clearfil Ceramic Primer + Variolink II (Groups 4 and 3 respectively). The least successful techniques were Lava + Sandblasting + Silane + Rely X and Lava + Sandblasting + Silane + Multilink (Groups 7 and 10). Bond failure was produced with less shear force than cohesive failure.
CONCLUSIONS: The cements that produced higher bond strength values were those with dual polymerization in combination with either sandblasting or silica coating and an adhesive containing MDP.