Influence of Airborne‐Particle Abrasion and Thermal Cycling on Enamel Bond Strength and Roughness of Lithium Disilicate Treated With a Self‐Etching Ceramic Primer

ABSTRACT Objective This in vitro study investigated the effect of a self‐etching ceramic primer (Monobond Etch & Prime [MEP]), with or without aluminum oxide airborne‐particle abrasion, on the surface roughness, and microtensile bond strength (μTBS) of lithium disilicate bonded to enamel, compared with the conventional hydrofluoric acid plus silane (HF + S). Materials and Methods Lithium disilicate specimens (10 × 10 × 4 mm) were assigned to four groups: HF + S airborne‐particle abraded (HF + S[a]), HF + S polished (HF + S[p]), MEP airborne‐particle abraded (MEP[a]), and MEP polished (MEP[p]). Surface roughness (Δ S a ) was assessed after conditioning, and specimens were bonded to bovine enamel with resin cement. μTBS was tested before and after thermo cycling (10,000 cycles, 5°C/55°C). Results Airborne‐particle abrasion significantly increased Δ S a (HF + S[a]: 1.16 ± 0.12 μm; MEP[a]: 0.85 ± 0.02 μm) compared to polished specimens (HF + S[p]: 0.47 ± 0.04 μm; MEP[p]: 0.38 ± 0.04 μm). HF + S and MEP performed similarly in all conditions ( p > 0.05). Airborne‐particle abraded surfaces consistently exhibited higher μTBS than polished ones ( p < 0.05). Thermo cycling significantly reduced μTBS in all groups. Mixed and cohesive failures predominated before thermo cycling, whereas adhesive failures increased after. Conclusion MEP and HF + S demonstrated comparable bonding to enamel. Airborne‐particle abrasion enhanced both surface roughness and μTBS, regardless of conditioning strategy. Although thermo cycling reduced adhesion in all groups, the decline was similar across treatments.