Acid-Etchable Ceramics — MFDS Part 1 MCQ

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ModerateDental MaterialsAcid-Etchable CeramicsMFDS Part 1

During routine adhesive cementation of an indirect restoration, which material class is conventionally conditioned on its fitting surface with hydrofluoric acid followed by silane?

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Correct answer: E — Glass-ceramics, such as lithium disilicate and leucite-reinforced ceramic

The correct answer is E. Lithium disilicate and leucite-reinforced ceramics contain an acid-soluble glass phase. Hydrofluoric acid selectively dissolves this phase, producing microporosities for micromechanical retention; subsequent silane treatment promotes chemical coupling to resin cement. Polycrystalline zirconia and alumina lack a glass phase and are not predictably conditioned by routine hydrofluoric-acid etching. Zirconia bonding instead generally relies on material-appropriate surface treatment and a phosphate-monomer-containing system, following the restoration manufacturer's instructions. Metal alloy substructures require metal-specific surface conditioning rather than ceramic acid etching. Therefore, neither all materials nor none of them is correct.

Reference: Bajraktarova-Valjakova E et al. Acid Etching as Surface Treatment Method for Luting of Glass-Ceramic Restorations, Part 1: Acids, Application Protocol and Etching Effectiveness. Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences. 2018;6(3):568-573. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29610622/