The surface roughness of restorative materials and dental tissues after polishing with prophylaxis and polishing pastes.

The effect of prophylaxis and polishing pastes on bovine tooth hard tissues and dental materials was investigated in vitro. Four restorative dental materials (gold, amalgam, a conventional composite, a microfilled composite), brought to a standard surface finish, and two bovine dental hard tissues (enamel, dentin) were polished with ten different prophylaxis and polishing pastes. Before polishing, SEM photographs were taken of all materials, and surface profiles were obtained of every sample. After polishing, surface profiles from every sample and SEM photographs of every material/paste combination were obtained. Using the same techniques, two-step polishing procedures were also investigated. The evaluation of the surface profiles and the rated SEM photographs (by 20 dentists) showed significant paste and material differences. There was a significant correlation (0.82) between the results of the surface profiles and the SEM ratings. Almost all pastes roughened the surfaces of dental restorative materials and only a few pastes showed a tendency to render the surfaces of dental restorative materials and only a few paste showed a tendency to render the surfaces of dental hard tissues smoother. Therefore, if polishing is indicated after periodontal treatment, the paste used should be selected carefully. Since the surface roughness of conventional composites increases tremendously during each polishing with pastes, their surfaces should be avoided when using polishing pastes. If polishing with a paste in indicated, conventional composites should be polished afterwards with aluminium silicate coated discs.