Effect of Prophylactic Pastes on Ceramic Surface Roughness

Objective: To test the effect of two different prophylactic pastes on the surface roughness of glazed ceramics.

Material and Methods: Fifty specimens were obtained from Empress-CAD (Ivoclar/Vivadent) blocks by sectioning into 1-mm-thick slices (12x14 mm), and were glazed with Universal Spray-Glaze (Ivoclar Vivadent). The surface roughness (Ra) measurements were made from 10 samples with surface profilometer from 3 spots (control group). The rest of the samples were randomly assigned to four groups of prophylactic polishing pastes with different grit sizes (Proxyt Coarse, Proxyt Fine (Ivoclar/Vivadent), Nupro Coarse, Nupro Fine (Dentsply)). Same operator polished the specimens in 10 seconds application/each, using new paste and rubber prophylaxis cups. After the procedure, roughness of the specimens was measured. Statistical analysis was performed after logarithmic transformation of the data. One-way ANOVA and Tukey test were used to assess the differences among the groups. Bonferroni test was used to evaluate differences from the control group (α<0.05).

Results: The table displays the Mean�SD surface roughness values. There were statistically significant differences between Proxyt Coarse and Proxyt Fine; Proxyt Fine and Nupro Fine (p< 0.001). No differences were observed between Nupro Coarse and Nupro Fine; Proxyt Coarse and Nupro Coarse (p>0.001). The only group that was not different from control group was Proxyt Fine.

Groups	Mean Ra � SD
Proxyt Coarse	0.183 � 0.08
Proxyt Fine	0.066 � 0.03
Nupro Coarse	0.209 � 0.11
Nupro Fine	0.188 � 0.07
Control	0.061 � 0.03

Conclusion: No detectable effect on the ceramic surface roughness was observed with Proxyt Fine.  The rest of the groups increased surface roughness significantly. The choice of prophylactic paste can affect maintenance of the ceramic surface smoothness.

Ivoclar Vivadent supported this study.