Morphological effects of surface treatments on ceramic restorative materials.

PURPOSE: To examine and evaluate the topographies of Vita Mark II and Dicor MGC surfaces by SEM after simulating the common clinical procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve (12) samples of Dicor MGC and 12 samples of Vita Mark II were milled on a Cerec, a computer-controlled machine. Three cut surfaces were observed and photographed using a scanning electron microscope following standardized milling, etching and polishing procedures. RESULTS: The surface topographies of the ceramic restorative materials showed distinctly different characteristics. Dicor MGC showed definite shaped crystals after etching. The surface characteristics of etched Dicor MGC were different than etched Vita Mark II, which exhibited large trabeculations. The occlusal and proximal surfaces, which were not etched but polished, displayed large vacuoles with Vita Mark II while smaller vacuoles were seen in the fused crystals of Dicor MGC.