The surface finish of the new microfill restorative materials. A scanning electron microscope study

Surface smoothness is an important requirement for restorative materials. Recently, restorative materials claimed to be inherently smooth in surface characteristics have been developed. Matrix-formed and finished surfaces of five new microfill restorative materials were compared with two composite resins, an acrylic resin and a silicate cement by means of scanning electron microscopy. The results of this investigation indicated that the matrix-formed surfaces of all the restorative materials studied were not altogether perfect. Polishing using sandpaper and cuttlefish discs produced a very smooth surface finish in the new microfill restorative materials, Estic microfill, Estilux microfill, Isopast, Isolux and Silar which was comparable to that of the acrylic resin, Sevriton. The composite resins, Adaptic and Estilux exhibited the worst surface finish and the silicate cement, Bio-trey was intermediate. Finishing, using other finer polishing devices on four of the materials produced a further improvement in the surface finish.