Stomatology ›› 2026, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (4): 277-282.doi: 10.13591/j.cnki.kqyx.2026.04.007

• Basic and Clinical Research • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of different surface treatments on flexural strength and morphology of CAD/CAM resin-ceramic composites

YANG Yaqian1, ZHANG Mengmeng2, REN Guanghui3, BI Wenya4, ZONG Min2()   

  1. School of Stomatology, Shandong Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Yantai 264003, China
  • Received:2025-06-30 Online:2026-04-28 Published:2026-04-17
  • Contact: ZONG Min E-mail:zongmin617@sina.com

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the effects of different surface treatments on the flexural strength and surface morphology of CAD/CAM resin-ceramic composites. Methods Three resin-ceramic composites—UPCERA Hyramic, Shofu Block HC, and Vita Enamic were subjected to four surface treatments: no treatment (NT), 50 μm Al2O3 sandblasting (SB), hydrofluoric acid etching (HF), and Er:YAG laser etching (Er:YAG). The three-point flexural strength was tested immediately and after 10 000 thermal cycles in accordance with ISO 6872 standards. Surface morphology was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The flexural strength data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, two-way ANOVA and LSD post hoc tests (α=0.05). Results Compared with the control group, the three-point flexural strength of all three resin-ceramic composites showed no significant change after HF treatment (P>0.05), while it decreased significantly after Er:YAG treatment and SB treatment, with the differences being statistically significant (P<0.05). After thermocycling, the strength of both Vita Enamic and Shofu Block HC decreased significantly in all groups (P<0.05), whereas the SB and Er:YAG groups of Vita Enamic showed no statistically significant decline (P>0.05). SEM analysis revealed alterations in surface morphology in all treated groups before and after thermocycling, with the HF group displaying the least pronounced changes. Conclusion For CAD/CAM resin-ceramic composites, hydrofluoric acid etching has the least detrimental effect on flexural strength and surface morphology. Caution should be exercised when employing Er:YAG laser etching or sandblasting treatments. However, for Vita Enamic, the influence of both sandblasting and Er:YAG laser treatment on the flexural strength is minimal after thermocycling.

Key words: CAD/CAM resin-ceramic composite, flexural strength, thermal cycling, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Er:YAG laser

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