title: Polishing methods of an alumina-reinforced feldspar ceramic.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that mechanical polishing methods of ceramic surfaces allow similar superficial roughness to that of glazed surfaces. Twenty-five Vitadur Alpha ceramic discs (5 mm x 2 mm) were prepared according to the manufacturer's specifications. All specimens were glazed and randomly assigned to 5 groups (n=5), according to finishing and polishing protocols: G1: glazed (control); G2: diamond bur finishing; G3: G2 + silicon rubber tip polishing; G4: G3 + felt disc/diamond polishing paste; G5: G3 + felt disc impregnated with fine-particle diamond paste. Next, surface roughness means (Ra - microm) were calculated. Qualitative analysis was made by scanning electron microscopy. Surface roughness data were submitted to ANOVA and Tukey's test at 5% significance level. G1 and G4 were statistically similar (p>0.05). G2 presented the highest roughness means (p<0.05) followed by groups G3, G5, G4 and G1 in a decreasing order. The hypothesis was partially confirmed as only the mechanical polishing (G4) produced similar superficial roughness to that of surface glazing, although finishing and polishing are technically critical procedures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1530 3rd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA. bottino@uab.edu
authors.forename: Marco Cícero
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bottino
authors.forename: Luiz Felipe
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Valandro
authors.forename: Karla Zanini
authors.initials: KZ
authors.lastname: Kantorski
authors.forename: José Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Bressiani
authors.forename: Marco Antonio
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bottino
mesh_terms: D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D000538:Aluminum Silicates / Q000737:chemistry*; D002516:Ceramics / Q000737:chemistry*; D003775:Dental Polishing / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D003776:Dental Porcelain / Q000737:chemistry*; D018130:Diamond / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D017680:Potassium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D012826:Silicone Elastomers / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D017680:Potassium Compounds; D012826:Silicone Elastomers; C483027:vitadur alpha; D003776:Dental Porcelain; C016447:feldspar; D018130:Diamond; D000537:Aluminum Oxide