Evaluation of the surface roughness of a composite resin using different polishers

Abstract

Introduction: The surface roughness is defined by the surface of a restorative material after the finishing and polishing steps, and is affected by the properties of the resinous composite as well as by the instruments used to perform the polishing. Objectives: To evaluate the surface roughness of a polished nano-hybrid composite resin with different polishing systems by atomic force microscopy (MFA) and polishing analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Materials and Methods: the factors under study are polishing systems at three levels: Enhance (Dentsply), Ultra-Gloss (American Burrs) and Dura-Gloss (American Burrs). The experimental units are composed of 30 specimens in conventional nano-hybrid composite resin, divided randomly into 3 groups (n = 10). The G1 Group received treatment with the single-stage polishing system: Dura-Gloss, Group G2, multi-step polishing system: Ultra-Gloss and Group G3 was treated with the single-stage polishing system: Enhance. The quantitative response variable is given by the surface roughness evaluated by atomic force microscopy (MFA). Results: the results showed that the systems of Dura-Gloss and Ultra-Gloss polishers presented similar surface roughness (p = 0.201) and differed statistically from the Enhance system (p = 0.023, Ultra-Gloss and p = 0.000, Dura- Gloss), which presented higher surface roughness for the nano-hybrid composite resin. Conclusion: Dura-Gloss and Ultra-Gloss polishers have a higher polishing capacity of nano-hybrid composite resin.