Evaluation of various cleaning and polishing methods on primary enamel

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of cleaning and polishing methods on primary enamel surfaces. Fifty-nine extracted or exfoliated caries free primary anterior human teeth were used. The cleaning and polishing methods used in this study were as follows: application of 10% NaOCl, polishing with a brush cone or a polishing brush at a low speed (600-6000 r.p.m.), polishing with a brush cone and various polishing pastes, cleaning with an air polisher Prophy-Jet or Quick-Jet with NaHCO3 powder and water. The following observations were obtained using the SEM: (1) Air polishing systems were useful for cleaning the enamel surface, (2) It was likely that materials such as organic films will remain on the enamel surface polished with a brush cone or polishing brush alone, and (3) The effect of 10% NaOCl application for 30 seconds was the lowest.