Surface finish produced on resin composites by new polishing systems.

OBJECTIVE: There is a demand for more efficient and finer polishing of resin composite restorations. This study compared the use of some new systems, with new or reduced numbers of abrasive instruments, to polish representative resin composites. METHOD AND MATERIALS: Super-Snap Rainbow Technique Kit, Sof-Lex Pop-On System, and Enhance Finishing and Polishing System were used to prepare the surfaces of blocks of seven different hybrid or microfilled resin composites. For each system, three instruments were used for 30 seconds each in a standard manner. The average surface roughness of the polished surfaces was determined by profilometer. RESULTS: Visually, all surfaces were of clinically acceptable luster. By profilometer ranking, the Super-Snap Rainbow Kit produced the smoothest surfaces, followed by the Sof-Lex Pop-On System disks (which were not statistically different), and the Enhance System. CONCLUSION: The Super-Snap Rainbow Technique Kit and Sof-Lex Pop-On System provided the smoothest surfaces for all the composites tested. For several composites, the Enhance System provided less smooth surfaces, but these were also clinically acceptable.