Enamel roughness after air-powder polishing

The purpose of this study was to quantify differences in enamel surface roughness following treatment with an air abrasive system when compared to a rubber cup and pumice. The coronal portion of 40 bovine teeth were tested. Half of the teeth were placed in a control group and cleansed with a rubber cup and pumice, the other half or "test" group were treated with an air-powder polisher. All teeth were exposed to the given cleansing agent for a time equivalent to a 15-year recall program. Pre- and post-treatment surface evaluation was completed using a surface profilometer. In addition, representative samples were evaluated before and after cleansing under the scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results of this study showed no statistically significant increase in enamel surface roughness in teeth cleansed with the air polisher when compared to the roughness of the control teeth. This was confirmed visually by use of SEM taken at magnifications of up to x1000. The findings of this study indicate there is no significant alteration of the enamel surface when a tooth is treated with an air-powder polisher for the equivalent of a 15-year recall program.