title: Effect of the polishing technique at low or high speed on the micro-hardness of dental amalgam.
abstract: Dental cavities were prepared and restored with amalgam, using three different silver alloys. The surface of the restorations was finished 24 hours after condensation, with a rotatory instrument using a low- or high-speed handpiece. The specimens were then submitted to metallographic polishing and one of the margins of the amalgam restoration were then submitted to Vickers' micro-hardness test. Another micro-hardness test was accomplished 168 hours after condensation and the two sets of micro-hardness values were compared. No significant statistical differences were detected between the micro-hardness values obtained with low or high speed in the polishing technique.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo.
authors.forename: M de L
authors.initials: Mde L
authors.lastname: Pedigoni
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Centola
authors.forename: I C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Froner
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Turbino
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
mesh_terms: D003723:Dental Amalgam; D003755:Dental High-Speed Technique; D003775:Dental Polishing / Q000379:methods*; D006244:Hardness; D006245:Hardness Tests; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D003723:Dental Amalgam