Effects of Wet and Dry Finishing and Polishing on Surface Roughness and Microhardness of Composite Resins

Objectives This study aimed to assess the effect of wet and dry finishing and polishing on microhardness and roughness of microhybrid and nanohybrid composites. Materials and Methods Thirty samples were fabricated of each of the Polofil Supra and Aelite Aesthetic All-Purpose Body microhybrid and Grandio and Aelite Aesthetic Enamel nanohybrid composite resins. Each group (n=30) was divided into three subgroups of D, W and C (n=10). Finishing and polishing were performed dry in group D and under water coolant in group W. Group C served as the control group and did not receive finishing and polishing. Surface roughness of samples was measured by a profilometer and their hardness was measured by a Vickers hardness tester. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA (P<0.05). Results The smoothest surfaces with the lowest microhardness were obtained under Mylar strip without finishing/polishing for all composites (P<0.0001). The highest surface roughness was recorded for dry finishing/polishing for all composites (P<0.0001). Dry finishing/polishing increased the microhardness of all composites (P<0.0001). Conclusions Dry finishing and polishing increases the microhardness and surface roughness of microhybrid and nanohybrid composite resins.