Is surface roughness of resin composites affected by operator's performance?

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Biomaterials Engineering

Background:

• Surface roughness of dental restorations affects esthetics and plaque accumulation.
• Finishing and polishing protocols are crucial for achieving smooth composite surfaces.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate intra-individual and inter-individual variations in surface roughness.
• To compare the effectiveness of finishing diamonds and rubber polishers on composite surfaces.

Main Methods:

• 120 composite specimens were prepared by four human operators and one mechanical device.
• Specimens were finished using a diamond and polished with rubber cups at baseline and after 48 hours.
• Surface roughness was measured using optical profilometry (Ra and LR).

Main Results:

• Significant inter-individual differences in surface roughness (Ra) were observed between operators and the mechanical device during finishing.
• Both Ra and LR values were significantly affected by the polishing groups (P < 0.001).
• No significant effect of application time (baseline vs. 48 hours) on surface roughness was found.

Conclusions:

• Operator skill and polishing instrument choice significantly influence composite surface roughness.
• Consistent surface roughness can be achieved regardless of whether finishing/polishing is done immediately or after 48 hours.