An evaluation of commercial pastes for finishing composite resin surfaces

A study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of several commercial pastes in polishing the surfaces of composite resin material. Five samples of Concise composite resin contained within Plexiglas block holders were prepared using Mylar matrices. One block was disked only; three blocks were disked and polished, each with a different paste. The remaining block was the control. The surface roughness of all samples was measured with a stylus profile instrument. Five extracted teeth were prepared in the same manner with Concise composite resin and Mylar strip matrix. In each tooth, the surface was finished by disking only or by disking followed by polishing with one of three pastes. The fifth tooth was the control. The samples were examined by use of a scanning electron microscope. Quantitative evaluation of over-all computer data indicated that the smoothest surface was found immediately ater removal of the Mylar matrix and that pastes leave a rougher surface than is left with a disc.