Protocol on the CERAMIC (internal surface)
Cleaning
Options:
- Phosphoric acid 37% — 10–15 s → rinse → dry
Purpose: remove contaminants
Hydrofluoric acid etching
- Lithium disilicate: 5–10 s
- Feldspathic: 20–60 s
Do not use on zirconia
Rinse — 15–30 s
- Abundant water
Drying
- Air
- Clean, matte surface
Silane — according to manufacturer
- Apply
- ~60 s
- Air dry
Adhesive — according to manufacturer
- Thin layer
- Air thin
- Generally do not light cure
Protocol on the TOOTH
If enamel
- Phosphoric acid etching — 15–30 s
- Rinse — 15 s
- Dry — 15 s (frosted appearance)
- Adhesive — according to manufacturer
- (Generally light cure)
If dentin
- Etching (if total-etch) — 10–15 s
- Rinse — 15 s
- Dry → moist dentin
- Adhesive — according to manufacturer
- Active application recommended
- Air drying 10–15 s minimum
- Do not light cure before cementation
Cementation
- Resin cement
- Seat restoration
- Remove excess
- Light cure
Key points
- Two interfaces:
- Ceramic + adhesive
- Tooth + adhesive
- Resin cement connects both
Common mistakes
- Not using silane
- Contaminating etched ceramic
- Light-curing adhesive on dentin
- Not following tooth protocol
- Using hydrofluoric acid on zirconia
Important note
- Phosphoric acid on ceramic:
- Not for etching
- Only for cleaning
- Always rinse and dry after acid