Ceramometal bond strength has played an important role for the replacement of gold alloys by nickel-chromium alloys in dentistry. This study evaluated the metal/porcelain bond strength of three ceramic systems (Vita VMK 88, Williams and Duceram) associated with three nickel-chromium alloys (Durabond, Lite Cast B and Resistal P) and one experimental cobalt-chromium-titanium alloy. Thirty cast cylinder specimens (15 mm in height; 6 mm in diameter) were obtained for each alloy, in away that 10 specimens of each alloy were tested with each porcelain. Bond strength was measured with an Emic screw-driven mechanical testing machine by applying parallel shear forces to the specimens until fracture. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for statistical analysis of the alloy/ceramic combinations (p<0.05). Resistal P/Duceram had significantly higher bond strength (44.38±9.12 MPa) (p<0.05) than the other combinations, except for Co-Cr-Ti alloy/Vita VMK 88 (38.41±12.64 MPa). The association of the experimental Co-Cr-Ti alloy with Williams porcelain had significantly higher bond strength (28.20±3.86 MPa) than the combination of other alloys with the same porcelain (p<0.05). Based of these results and within the limitations of an in vitro study, it may be concluded that the bond strength of the three ceramic systems to the Ni-Cr and Co-Cr-Ti alloys varied significantly, indicating that metal/ceramic compatibility was very important to the bond strength.
metal ceramic alloys; dental porcelain; shear bond strength
