IADR Abstract Archives
Surface Roughness: 3M vs Shofu Polishing Discs
Objectives: Surface roughness of composite restorations contributes to their propensity to attract plaque and stains. A rough surface makes it difficult for patients to effectively clean the restoration. Therefore, it is prudent to ensure a composite restoration is adequately finished and polished. This project compared two composite polishing disc systems (3M Sof-lex and ShoFu SuperSnap/SuperSnap Xtreme) by measuring the surface roughness created by each system.
Methods: Nano-hybrid composite (IPS Empress Direct, Ivoclar VIvodent, NY, USA) was used to make 2mm x 2mm x 20mm sticks. These were polished with increasing grits through P4000 using papers. The popular disk systems selected for comparison were: Sof-lex (3M, MN, USA) and Super-Snap (Shofu, CA, USA). Disks of each grit (N=4 each) (coarse, medium, fine, and super-fine) were used to independently make ten 1-second passes on each stick using a light touch and the manufacturer’s recommended RPM. An optical 3-D measurement system (Infinite Focus SL, Bruker Alicona, Graz, Austria) took 1mm x 1mm surface images and measurements of each sample and calculated the arithmetical mean height (Sa) and the Root mean square height (Sq). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was also used to visually compare the disks. ANOVA, with post-hoc Tukey tests, was used to statistically compare the corresponding roughness left by each grit for each system (α=0.05).
Results: Corresponding grits for both systems were compared. The Sof-lex coarse, medium, fine, and super-fine each had higher surface roughness than the respective Super-Snap grits. SEM images revealed several design and manufacturing differences between disks of the two systems.
Conclusions: The Super-snap system provided a less rough surface after polishing. The coarse Sof-lex had the highest surface roughness, indicating that it removes the most material amongst the disks tested. The smoother surface resulting from Super-Snap use could potentially lead to lower plaque and stain accumulation on composite restorations.
Methods: Nano-hybrid composite (IPS Empress Direct, Ivoclar VIvodent, NY, USA) was used to make 2mm x 2mm x 20mm sticks. These were polished with increasing grits through P4000 using papers. The popular disk systems selected for comparison were: Sof-lex (3M, MN, USA) and Super-Snap (Shofu, CA, USA). Disks of each grit (N=4 each) (coarse, medium, fine, and super-fine) were used to independently make ten 1-second passes on each stick using a light touch and the manufacturer’s recommended RPM. An optical 3-D measurement system (Infinite Focus SL, Bruker Alicona, Graz, Austria) took 1mm x 1mm surface images and measurements of each sample and calculated the arithmetical mean height (Sa) and the Root mean square height (Sq). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was also used to visually compare the disks. ANOVA, with post-hoc Tukey tests, was used to statistically compare the corresponding roughness left by each grit for each system (α=0.05).
Results: Corresponding grits for both systems were compared. The Sof-lex coarse, medium, fine, and super-fine each had higher surface roughness than the respective Super-Snap grits. SEM images revealed several design and manufacturing differences between disks of the two systems.
Conclusions: The Super-snap system provided a less rough surface after polishing. The coarse Sof-lex had the highest surface roughness, indicating that it removes the most material amongst the disks tested. The smoother surface resulting from Super-Snap use could potentially lead to lower plaque and stain accumulation on composite restorations.