Surface roughness of finished composite resins

This study evaluated the results of polishing composite resin by using the following finishing and polishing techniques: Arkansas stone burs; eight-blade tungsten-carbide burs; diamond burs; aluminum-oxide disks; no polishing; and 12- and 30-blade tungsten-carbide burs. The results were compared to ascertain which technique delivers the smoothest surface. The study was done with 120 class V restorations on extracted human teeth distributed in two groups (I and II) of 60 restorations each. Group I teeth samples were filled with microfilled composite resin and Group II with a hybrid composite resin. Readings were made with a profilometer to evaluate the final polishing. The conclusions from the results of the study were that microfilled composite resins provided a better finish when treated with aluminum-oxide disks. These results were statistically significant (p < 0.001). When hybrid composites were used the control group recorded the lowest values.