Abstract
PURPOSE: The aim was to compare the impact of two distinct surface treatment methods on implant abutments concerning the retention of implant-supported restorations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 30 implant analogs, individually embedded into blocks of autopolymerizing acrylic resin, were paired with 30 titanium implant abutments and divided into three groups (each, n = 10) based on surface treatment. Group I included untreated implant abutments; group II included abutments treated with sandblasting; and group III comprised abutments treated with Microarc Oxidation. A qualitative surface analysis was conducted using scanning electron microscope. Each abutment was connected to its analog embedded in the resin block. Resin copings were fabricated using rapid additive prototyping (3D printing) and cast into Ni-Cr alloy copings and cemented onto the abutments using zinc-polycarboxylate cement. Test samples were subjected to tensile bond strength (TBS) testing using an Axial-Torsion Servohydraulic Fatigue-Testing System. The results were tabulated and subjected to statistical evaluation. RESULTS: The mean TBS of the cemented cast copings on implant abutments was 4.276 MPa-group I; 6.340 MPa-group II; and 8.117 MPa-group III. Upon comparison, group III demonstrated the highest mean TBS, followed by group II, while group I exhibited the lowest strength. Qualitative surface analysis revealed that the test samples in group II and group III had greater surface roughness compared to those in group I. CONCLUSION: The surface treatments of implant abutments using sandblasting and Microarc Oxidation enhanced the tensile bond strength of cemented cast copings and, MAO significantly increased retention of cement-retained restorations compared to sandblasting.