Influence of acidic solutions on surface roughness of polished and glazed CAD-CAM restorative materials

The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the surface roughness (Ra) changes of different dental ceramic materials with different compositions, which were applied two different surface treatments after exposure to acidic pH. The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the Ra changes of different CAD-CAM materials with different compositions, which were applied two different surface treatments, after exposure to acidic pH.

A total of the 168 samples (12 × 14 × 2 mm) were obtained from ceramic blocks (IPS e.max CAD (LDS)), GC Cerasmart (RNC-C), Lava Ultimate (RNC-L), and Vita Enamic (PIC). Half of each group was subjected to mechanical polishing, and the other half was glazed. After the initial Ra evaluations were made, the samples classified with 7 in each subgroup were kept in three different solutions (citric acid, Coca-Cola, and artificial saliva-control group). After 168 h, surface roughness values of the specimens were measured again.

In the RNC-C samples, varying surface treatments and exposure to various solutions did not produce a statistically significant difference. Different acidic solutions did not affect the Ra values of LDS and RNC-C ceramics. The percentage change in Ra values in the glazed samples of PIC exposed to Coca-Cola and RNC-L exposed to artificial saliva were higher than those applied mechanical polishing.

The Ra values of RNC-C ceramics were not affected by both surface treatment and acid exposure. The percentage change in Ra values was highest in PIC ceramics. In general, glazed samples had larger Ra change values and higher percentage change in Ra values than manually polished ones.