The results of this study suggest that immediate polishing procedures can result in improved short-term surface smoothness results but do not influence smoothness or sealing ability after one-year storage.
SUMMARYSince there is a lack of information on the surface properties of composite restorations achieved with standard polishing procedures after aging processes, this study evaluated the effects of immediate (IM) and delayed (DE) polishing on the surface roughness (Ra), microhardness (KHN) and microleakage (ML) of microfilled (Filtek A110) and hybrid (Filtek Z250) resin composites after oneyear storage. Standardized preparations were made on the buccal surface of 256 bovine teeth, where half were restored with each composite. For each composite, the specimens were randomly allocated to two subgroups. The first group (IM) was polished immediately after gross finishing using three different systems/techniques (n=16): Sof-Lex, Flexicups and Flexicups + Jiffy Polishing Brush + Flexibuffs (sequential), then stored for three weeks in saline. The DE group was stored for two weeks, polished with the same systems and stored for one week. From each subgroup, eight specimens were assessed after three weeks regarding Ra, KHN and ML (baseline), and the eight remaining specimens were stored for one