Surface Finish Produced on 5 Aesthetic Restorative Materials by New Polishing Systems

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the surface finish of 5 different aesthetic restorative materials after polishing with 3 different polishing systems. Materials and Method: The materials included 2 nano-filled composites (Tetric Evo Ceram and Grandio), a compomer (Compoglass F), a resin-modified glass ionomer cement (Fuji II LC), and a highly viscous glass-ionomer cement (Fuji IX GP Fast). 32 specimens (6mm diameter x 3mm thickness) of each material were fabricated and divided into 4 groups. Specimens in the group 1 were left without finishing and polishing (matrix strip finish), while in the remaining groups specimens were finished with 30-fluted finishing tungsten carbide bur. The groups were then finished/polished with the following polishing systems: Group 2: Sof-Lex, Group 3: Optapol, Group 4: Diacomp. The surfaces were tested for surface roughness with a profilometer and examined with SEM. Data were subjected to ANOVA and Tukey’s HSD test at significance level p<0.05. Results: The matrix strip group had the lowest Ra values and was significantly different from all of the finishing/polishing procedures. Tetric Evo Ceram, Grandio and Compoglass F had lower mean Ra values against matrix strip than Fuji II LC and Fuji IX GP Fast. For Fuji II LC and Fuji IX GP Fast there was no difference among the different polishing systems. For all materials a significantly smoother surface was obtained after polishing with Sof-Lex than with Optapol and Diacomp. Conclusions: There was a significant effect of the finishing methods and restorative materials on surface roughness (p<0.05).