Preparation of specimens was performed according to protocol published in Sagen et al. [8 (
link)]
Bovine mandibles (4–6 years old) were obtained from the Norwegian food producer Nortura. A total of 190 bovine mandibular incisors were extracted, cut and mounted in epoxy resin (
EpoFix, Struers, Copenhagen, Denmark) with buccal surface exposed.
Circular zirconia (
n = 100, Starceram Z, H.C. Starck Ceramics GmbH, Selb, Germany) and lithium disilicate (
n = 50,
IPS e.max CAD, Ivoclar Vivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein, ) rods (5 mm diameter, 11.5 mm length) were produced by CAD/CAM technique (
Solidworks CAD, Dassault Systemes, Waltham, Massachusetts. hyperDENT CAM software, FOLLOW-ME!, Munich, Germany. Milled in Röders RXD5C, Soltau, Germany). The rods were ground at one end using P500 silicon carbide paper (SiC, Struers, Copenhagen, Denmark) to obtain a uniform surface roughness. Before further surface treatment the rods were cleaned with a dental steamer (Steamer X3, Amann Girrbach, Pforzheim, Germany) and thoroughly air-dried.
Aker Sagen M., Vos L., Dahl J.E, & Rønold H.J. (2022). Shear bond strength of resin bonded zirconia and lithium disilicate – effect of surface treatment of ceramics and dentin. Biomaterial Investigations in Dentistry, 9(1), 10-19.