Influence of Different Plaque Control Methods and Hydrothermal Aging on Structural Properties of Monolithic Zirconia

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of hydrothermal aging and various plaque removal methods, which are a part of professional dental cleaning, on zirconia's structural properties. Materials and Methods: Seventy-two disk-shaped monolithic zirconia specimens (diameter 12 mm and thickness 1 mm) divided into six groups were subjected to no surface treatment, instrumentation with steel curette and ultrasonic steel scaler, and air abrasion with sodium bicarbonate, erythritol, and glycine before being aged in an autoclave at 0.2 MPa and 134 °C for 2 h. Specimens were analyzed using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, and atomic force microscopy to evaluate crystal structure, microstructure, and surface roughness. Further, the contact angle and Vickers hardness measurements were performed for wettability and hardness evaluations. A biaxial bending test was applied to measure the durability of the material. Results: According to the results, no significant change was found in the crystal structure, surface roughness, and bending strength of zirconia (p>0.05). In contrast, a substantial decrease in surface hardness values and a significant increase in wettability values were observed in the steel curette and ultrasonic steel scaler groups compared with other groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: The use of abrasive powders in dental plaque control after prosthetic treatment can help maintain periodontal health and long-term use of prosthesis after restoration of monolithic zirconia.