Retention and surface changes of zirconia primary crowns with secondary crowns of different materials

To evaluate zirconia as a substitute for gold alloy in primary crowns facing secondary crowns manufactured with different materials, in terms of long-term retention force changes, wear, and phase transformation was aimed. A total of 12 groups, each containing six samples, consisting of gold alloy primary crown-electroformed gold secondary crowns (AA), zirconia primary crown-electroformed gold secondary crowns (ZA) and zirconia primary crown-casted non-precious alloy secondary crowns (ZC) with conus angles of 0A degrees, 2A degrees, 4A degrees, and 6A degrees were evaluated. Samples were subjected to 10,000 insertion-separation cycles in artificial saliva and retention force was measured. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope analysis were performed on the sample surfaces. The highest retention forces were obtained from ZC-0A degrees group (72.09-71.26 N) and the lowest were obtained from ZA-4A degrees (12.73-19.44 N) and ZA-6A degrees (5.36-19.73 N) groups in the beginning and after 10,000 cycles, respectively. Retention force increased as the conus angle decreased. The monoclinic phase ratio of the zirconia primary crowns decreased after the experiments. No wear was observed in zirconia primary crowns except for the ZC-0A degrees and ZC-2A degrees groups. The use of zirconia primary crowns resulted in a less excursive retention force. A more predictable and less excursive retention force can be obtained using a hard and rigid primary crown material like zirconia. Despite a lack of knowledge about the aging of zirconia without a veneer layer in the oral environment, zirconia primary crowns are more advantageous in terms of retention force development and wear.