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Er, Cr:YSGG and Nd:YAG Laser Surface Treatment of Lithium Disilicate Ceramics: SEM, EDX Analysis and Composite Bond Strength Evaluation
D.H.M. El Azzouni
Oral and Maxillofacial Prosthetic Department, College of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, KSA.
received October 30, 2025, received in revised form November 27, 2025, accepted November 27, 2025
Pages 1-8 DOI: 10.4416/JCST2025-00035
Abstract
This study is an evaluation of the impact of pre-treatment regimes – Hydrofluoric Acid (HFA), Neodymium-doped Yttrium-Aluminum Garnet (Nd:YAG), and Erbium, Chromium: Yttrium-Scandium-Gallium-Garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) laser – on the surface roughness (Ra), topography, and repair bond strength (RBS) of lithium disilicate ceramics (LDC) with micro-hybrid composite (MHC), having high-viscosity, and an injectable composite (IC) with low-viscosity. Ninety LDC disks were fabricated. The discs were divided into three groups according to surface pretreatment (n = 30 each). Group 1: HFA, Group 2: ErCr:YSGG, Group 3: Nd:YAG laser. To assess the Ra, five samples from each cohort were examined under a profilometer. Five samples from each surface treatment group were subjected to topographical evaluation by means of SEM. Twenty samples from each group were allocated into two groups determined by the viscosity of the resin composite. Low-viscosity IC(A) and high-viscosity MHC(B). A universal testing machine and a stereomicroscope were used to assess the RBS and failure modes. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA followed by post hoc Tukey, (p < 0.05). HFA-pretreated samples achieved the maximum Ra scores. Nd:YAG laser-treated LDC discs exhibited the minimum Ra scores. The highest bond strength was observed in Group 1A samples. Nd:YAG laser + MHC discs demonstrated the lowest RBS. HFA, as a surface conditioning regime, and a low-viscosity IC, as a repair material, displayed better performance in terms of improving surface characteristics and bond strength with LDC.
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Keywords
Hydrofluoric acid, micro-hybrid composite, injectable composite, lithium disilicate ceramics, surface topography
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