Surface characteristics of resin composite materials after finishing and polishing

This in vitro study determined the surface roughness (Ra) and absolute gloss (AG) values for 2 resin composites: a microhybrid and a microfill. Eight groups (n = 4) of each resin composite were prepared, along with 4 controls (Mylar strip) for the 2 resin composites. After finishing with a medium polishing disc, the specimens from each resin composite material were subjected to 7 polishing procedures, and Ra measurements and AG values were determined. Two-way ANOVA and Fisher's LSD multiple comparisons revealed significant differences (P ≤ 0.05). For both materials, the control group produced the lowest Ra values and highest AG values, and the medium polishing disc produced the highest Ra values and lowest AG values. Of the 2 resin composites, the microhybrid had lower mean Ra and higher mean AG than the microfill for the majority of the polishing procedures. Pearson's r correlation coefficient (P ≤ 0.001) indicated an inverse linear relationship between Ra and AG.