Efficiency of three different polishing methods on enamel and cementum: A scanning electron microscope study

Area of Science:

• Dental hygiene and restorative dentistry.
• Surface analysis and material science in dentistry.

Background:

• Tooth polishing is crucial for smooth enamel and cementum, aiding periodontal health by minimizing plaque accumulation.
• Traditional methods like bristle brush and rubber cup polishing are common, with air polishers emerging as a novel alternative.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the clinical effectiveness of three dental polishing systems: bristle brush, rubber cup, and air polisher.
• To evaluate their impact on enamel and cementum surface integrity using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Main Methods:

• 120 enamel and cementum samples were randomly assigned to bristle brush, rubber cup, or air polisher groups.
• Samples were analyzed via SEM at 1000x magnification to assess surface roughness and debris post-polishing.

Main Results:

• Rubber cup polishing significantly reduced surface roughness on both enamel and cementum compared to air polishing.
• Bristle brush polishing showed less surface roughness and debris than air polishing on enamel.

Conclusions:

• Rubber cup polishing demonstrated superior effectiveness in smoothening crown and root surfaces and removing debris compared to bristle brush and air polishing.
• The findings support rubber cup polishing as a statistically significant and effective method in clinical dentistry.