Composite surfaces after finishing and polishing techniques.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of finishing and polishing techniques on surface roughness of resin-based composites (RBCs).


METHODS
Forty specimens of each material were cured under Mylar strips and immersed in artificial saliva for 1 wk. Samples were tested with a profilometer to obtain baseline average surface roughness (Ra). Specimens of both RBCs were then finished and polished according to four techniques: (1) Sof-Lex disks; (2) Sof-Lex disks followed by Prisma Gloss; (3) Enhance points; (4) Enhance points followed by Prisma Gloss application. New readings of the roughness pattern were carried out and the difference of post-polishing and baseline values were analyzed.


RESULTS
ANOVA test (alpha = 0.05) did not show differences between materials (P = 0.9393) nor interaction effects (P = 0.3094), but significant difference among the finishing/polishing techniques were detected (P = 0.0157). Tukey's test showed that the smoothest surface was obtained when the specimens were treated by Sof-Lex followed by Prisma Gloss polishing paste; and the worst results were obtained after using Enhance points alone.
Turssi
C P
CP
Department of Restorative Dentistry, Araraquara School of Dentistry, UNESP, São Paulo, Brazil. cturssi@yahoo.com
Saad
J R
JR
Duarte
S L
SL
Rodrigues
A L
AL
D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000737:chemistry; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D003775:Dental Polishing / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007101:Immersion; D008422:Materials Testing; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D012464:Saliva, Artificial / Q000737:chemistry; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013499:Surface Properties; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D013997:Time Factors
D003188:Composite Resins; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D012464:Saliva, Artificial; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; C025539:Lavsan; D000537:Aluminum Oxide