Abstract
BACKGROUND: Durable bonding to zirconia remains difficult because its chemically inert surface resists acid etching. Additive manufacturing (AM) enables controlled surface morphology, which may enhance micromechanical retention without additional treatments. METHODS: Zirconia specimens with three AM-derived surface designs-(1) concave-convex hemispherical patterns, (2) concave hemispherical patterns, and (3) as-printed surfaces-were fabricated using a slurry-based 3D printing system and sintered at 1500 °C. Zirconia specimens fabricated by subtractive manufacturing using CAD/CAM systems, polished with 15 µm diamond lapping film and with or without subsequent alumina sandblasting, served as controls. Surface morphology was analyzed by FE-SEM, and shear bond strength (SBS) was tested after cementation with a resin-based luting agent. RESULTS: SEM revealed regular layered textures and designed hemispherical structures (~300 µm) in AM specimens, along with step-like irregularities (~40 µm) at layer boundaries. The concave-convex AM group showed significantly higher SBS than both sandblasted and polished subtractive-manufactured zirconia (p < 0.05). Vertically printed specimens demonstrated greater bonding strength than those printed parallel to the bonding surface, indicating that build orientation affects resin infiltration and interlocking. CONCLUSION: AM-derived zirconia surfaces can provide superior and reproducible micromechanical retention compared with conventional treatments. Further optimization of printing parameters and evaluation of long-term durability are needed for clinical application.