Surface roughness of finished composite resins.

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Restorative Dentistry
• Surface Finishing Techniques

Background:

• Achieving a smooth surface on composite resin restorations is crucial for aesthetics and longevity.
• Various finishing and polishing techniques exist, but their effectiveness varies depending on the composite material used.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness of different finishing and polishing techniques on composite resin surfaces.
• To determine which technique yields the smoothest surface for both microfilled and hybrid composite resins.

Main Methods:

• Evaluated six finishing and polishing techniques: Arkansas stone burs, tungsten-carbide burs (8, 12, and 30 blades), diamond burs, and aluminum-oxide disks.
• Utilized 120 Class V restorations on extracted human teeth, divided into two groups: Group I (microfilled composite resin) and Group II (hybrid composite resin).
• Assessed surface smoothness using profilometer readings after polishing.

Main Results:

• Aluminum-oxide disks significantly improved the surface finish of microfilled composite resins (p < 0.001).
• For hybrid composite resins, the control group (no polishing) exhibited the lowest surface roughness values.
• The effectiveness of polishing techniques was material-dependent.

Conclusions:

• Aluminum-oxide disks are highly effective for polishing microfilled composite resins.
• The optimal finishing and polishing strategy for hybrid composite resins may involve minimal intervention or specific techniques not evaluated.
• Material type significantly influences the choice of the most effective composite resin polishing technique.