Finishing and polishing glass-ionomer cements

Four different methods for finishing and polishing the surfaces of two different glass-ionomer cements were studied by measuring the roughness of specimens at different stages of the procedures. Method 1 consisted of the four 3M Sof-Lex XT discs. Method 2 included a round, fine-grit diamond and the Vivadent polisher. In method 3 a round Arkansas stone and the Vivadent polisher were used. Method 4 comprised medium and fine sand and fine cuttle paper discs. Petroleum jelly was always used, to prevent heating and desiccation of the specimens. The cements used were KetacFil and KetacSilver. The smoothest surface was found after removal of the strip. The Sof-Lex medium disc gave the least rough surface for KetacFil, whereas the fine cuttle disc gave the smoothest finish for KetacSilver. Discs in sequence are to be preferred to diamonds and stones.