Clinically versus laboratory photocured facings

Acrylic and composite resin facings may fracture or become detached from the metal framework. Insufficient retention, abrasion and trauma are among the causes of these phenomena. Clinical and laboratory techniques have been developed to fabricate facings by means of light-curing composite systems such as the Dentacolor (Kulzer, Inc.) system. The effect of different polishing methods, obtained in both techniques using the same material, was studied with SEM on samples. Finishing and polishing procedures were accomplished using fine finishing diamonds, diamond burs and sof-lex discs. Smooth and lustrous surfaces were obtained with finishing discs, in contrast to techniques using other finishing instruments. Little or no difference in surface texture was observed between samples finished by clinical and those finished by laboratory techniques.