Clinical performance of two different adhesive strategies for metal-ceramic cracks repairing and related in vitro study.

To evaluate the bonding reliability of a universal adhesive compared to a commercial ceramic repair system for metal-ceramic cracks. In vitro part: sixty specimens with porcelain, metal and porcelain-metal substrate were fabricated. Half specimens were bonded by Singlebond Universal adhesive and Filtek Z350 resin composite. The other were processed by Ceramic Repair N. Shear bond strength was tested. In vivo part: forty patients with sixty ceramic fractured porcelain-fused-metal restorations were involved. Half were repaired by Singlebond Universal and Filtek Z350. The other were restored by Ceramic Repair N. The mean observation period was 65 weeks. Results showed the bond strength ranged from 13.97 MPa to 15.85 MPa using two different repair system on different substrate with no statistical difference. There was no statistical difference between the two adhesive system in survival rate according to Kaplan-Meier analysis. The universal adhesive had a similar repair performance compared to commercial ceramic repair system.