Chairside polishing of heat-cured acrylic resin: an SEM and EDA study.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the surfaces produced on two commonly used heat-cured acrylic resins by two chairside polishing systems compared to conventional lathe polishing. It used energy dispersive analysis (EDA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to investigate the abrasive materials bonded in the silicone points that are marketed for chairside polishing of acrylic resin.


METHODS
Using the three polishing systems (conventional as control, Shofu acrylic polishing system [AcryPoint], and Kenda Queen silicone polisher), three operators polished specimens using a defined protocol. Specimens were subjected to SEM and confocal microscopy. EDA was undertaken on the silicone polishing points.


RESULTS
Conventional polishing produced the superior surface, followed by the surfaces produced by the Shofu system and then Kenda Queen. However, both chairside polishing systems produced smoother surfaces on acrylic resin than the surfaces produced by either steel or tungsten carbide burs. Both the Shofu acrylic polishing system and Kenda Queen silicone polisher contain beads of cerium, which is widely used in industry for polishing of glass.


CONCLUSIONS
Silicone polishing points marketed for polishing of acrylic resin could be used to produce smooth surfaces that have been adjusted with burs where there is no access to a laboratory lathe.
O'Donnell
E Fionnuala
EF
Department of Prosthodontics, Guy's, King's and St Thomas' Dental Institute, King's College, University of London.
Radford
David R
DR
Sinclair
Gary F
GF
Clark
Robert K F
RK
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002563:Cerium; D003775:Dental Polishing / Q000379:methods*; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D012828:Silicones; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013499:Surface Properties
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D012828:Silicones; D002563:Cerium