Surface roughness of opalescent porcelains after polishing

Intraoral porcelain polishing is an important consideration in many restorative and esthetic procedures. Several porcelain polishing systems as well as improved ceramics are now commercially available. This study evaluated the efficacy of eight different intraoral polishing techniques on three opalescent porcelains. The surface roughness (Ra) of the opalescent porcelains were measured before and after the polishing procedures with a profilometer. These results were then compared to self-glazed and overglazed control groups. Five of the techniques tested produced surfaces smoother than glazing. The use of a 30-fluted carbide bur before diamond polishing paste produced the smoothest surfaces.