The effect of six polishing systems on the surface roughness of two packable resin-based composites.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the surface roughness of two packable composites after finishing and polishing with six different systems.


METHODS
Solitaire and Alert composite samples were prepared and polished with Poli I and Poli II aluminum oxide pastes, Ultralap diamond paste, Enhance finishing points, Politip rubber polishers, fine and extra fine diamond burs, and 30-blade tungsten carbide burs according to the manufacturers' instructions. The polished surfaces were then evaluated with a profilometer and a scanning electron microscope.


RESULTS
Solitaire composite resin presented the smoothest surfaces when polished with Poli I and II aluminum oxide pastes, Ultralap diamond paste, Politip finishing points and 30-blade tungsten carbide burs. The smoothest surfaces for Alert composite were evident with the 30-blade tungsten carbide burs.
Reis
André Figueiredo
AF
Department of Restorative Dentistry, Piracicaba School of Dentistry, Campinas State University, SP, Brazil. reisandre@yahoo.com
Giannini
Marcelo
M
Lovadino
José Roberto
JR
dos Santos Dias
Carlos Tadeu
CT
D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000737:chemistry; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D003775:Dental Polishing / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D018130:Diamond / Q000737:chemistry; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D012408:Rubber / Q000737:chemistry; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013499:Surface Properties; D017973:Tungsten Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D014783:Viscosity
C406265:Alert composite resin; D003188:Composite Resins; C113049:Solitaire composite resin; D017973:Tungsten Compounds; C002802:tungsten carbide; D018130:Diamond; D012408:Rubber; D000537:Aluminum Oxide