Surface Roughness on Dental Tissues by Abrasives – An In-Vitro Study

Introduction: Air-powder polishing devices are increasingly used for stain and plaque removal. However, besides cleaning the tooth surface, they may increase the surface roughness of the dental tissues. This in turn may result in plaque accumulation and superficial degradation. Thus the aim of this study was to assess the influence of three different abrasive agents: Pumice, Sodium bicarbonate and Calcium carbonate on the root surfaces using surface roughness tester & scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Material and Methods: Thirty extracted teeth were scaled and root planed, stored in saline and embedded in acrylic resin. Baseline values for surface roughness for root surface and implants were taken using a surface roughness tester. The samples were then randomly divided into three groups of ten each: Group I were treated using pumice with a rotating rubber cup. Group II and Group III with sodium bicarbonate and calcium carbonate powder respectively with an air-powder polishing device. The surface roughness of each sample was again measured using the surface roughness tester and was confirmed using SEM. Results: Surface roughness values for root and implant increased for pumice and sodium bicarbonate whereas decreased for calcium carbonate from the baseline. Surface roughness for pumice was not statistically significant while for sodium bicarbonate and calcium carbonate; was significant. SEM analysis showed that sodium bicarbonate produced roughest surface and calcium carbonate produced smoothest surface. Conclusions: Within the scope of this study, we can conclude that calcium carbonate powder produces smoothest root surface and thus can safely be used for polishing.