title: Adjusting dental ceramics: An in vitro evaluation of the ability of various ceramic polishing kits to mimic glazed dental ceramic surface.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  During the insertion appointment, the practitioner is often faced with the need to adjust ceramic surfaces to fit a restoration to the adjacent or opposing dentition and soft tissues.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to assess the ceramic surface smoothness achieved with various commercially available ceramic polishing kits on different commonly used ceramic systems. The reliability of the cost of a polishing kit as an indicator of improved surface smoothness was assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 350 ceramic surfaces representing 5 commonly available ceramic systems (IPS Empress Esthetic, IPS e.max Press, Cergo Kiss, Vita PM 9, Imagine PressX) were treated with 5 types of ceramic polishing systems (Cerapreshine, 94006C, Ceramiste, Optrafine, Zenostar) by following the manufacturers' guidelines. The surface roughness was measured with a profilometer (Taylor Hobson; Precision Taylor Hobson Ltd). The effects of ceramic systems and polishing kits of interest on surface roughness were analyzed by 2-way ANOVA, paired t test, and Bonferroni corrected significance level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ceramic systems and polishing kits statistically affected surface roughness (P<.001).The polishing kit Zenostar on IPS e.max Press created the smoothest ceramic surface. No correlation could be established between the high cost of the polishing kit and low surface roughness. None of the commonly used ceramic polishing kits could create a surface smoother than that of glazed ceramic (P<.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The inclusion of a diamond polishing paste step is recommended to improve surface smoothness (P<.001). The cost of ceramic polishing kits is not recommended as a reliable indicator of better performance of ceramic polishing kits (P>.30).
authors: Assistant Professor, Department of Restorative Sciences, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria. Electronic address: rene.steiner@uki.at.
authors: René
authors: R
authors: Steiner
authors: Assistant Professor, Department of Restorative Sciences, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors: Ulrike S
authors: US
authors: Beier
authors: Assistant Professor, Department of Restorative Sciences, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors: Irene
authors: I
authors: Heiss-Kisielewsky
authors: Professor and Chair, Department of Prosthodontics, University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pa.
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Engelmeier
authors: Professor, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors: Herbert
authors: H
authors: Dumfahrt
authors: Assistant Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pa.
authors: Matilda
authors: M
authors: Dhima
mesh_terms: D000538:Aluminum Silicates / Q000737:chemistry; D002516:Ceramics / Q000737:chemistry*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D003775:Dental Polishing / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003776:Dental Porcelain / Q000737:chemistry; D018130:Diamond / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D003764:Dental Materials; C508050:IPS e.max Press; C075815:IPS-Empress ceramic; D003776:Dental Porcelain; D018130:Diamond