Surface Topography, Gloss and Flexural Strength of Pressable Ceramic After Finishing-Polishing Protocols

Abstract This study evaluated the effect of different finishing-polishing protocols on surface roughness, gloss, morphology and biaxial flexural strength of pressable fluorapatite glass ceramic. Thirty ceramic discs (12x1 mm) were produced and divided into five groups (n=6): CT: control (glaze); DA: fine grit diamond bur; DG: DA + new glaze layer; DP: DA + felt disk with fine grit diamond paste; DK: DA+ sequential polishing with silicon abrasive instruments, goat hair brush and cotton wheel. The specimens were analyzed for surface roughness (Ra) under profilometry and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Gloss was measured with spectrophotometry and micromorphology with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Flexural strength was assessed by biaxial flexural strength test. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc test (a=0.05). DK showed the lowest surface roughness values and DA presented the highest in the perfilometer analysis. No significant differences were observed in the AFM for the CT, DG and DK groups, which presented the lower surface roughness; DA and DP had the higher Ra values. The DA, DP and CT showed the lowest surface gloss values, and the reflectance was significantly different from those observed for DK and DG groups. SEM analysis revealed the smoothest surface for DK group, followed by DG and CT groups; DA and DP groups exhibited variable degrees of surface irregularities. No significant differences were observed among groups for the biaxial flexural strength. The polishing protocol used in DK group can be a good alternative for chairside finishing of adjusted pressable fluorapatite glass ceramic surfaces.