Is surface roughness of direct resin composite restorations material and polisher‐dependent? A systematic review

Abstract

AbstractStatement of ProblemDirect resin composite bonding offers a highly esthetic, minimally invasive option for the treatment of anterior teeth however the challenge to improve their longevity remains. Direct resin composite restorations are limited by the risk of staining which may be influenced by the final surface roughness (Ra) of composite achieved.PurposeThe purpose of this review is to investigate, using a systematic approach, whether the final surface roughness of anterior composite restorations is affected by the interaction between resin composite and polishing systems.Materials and MethodsThe review was conducted by 3 independent reviewers and included articles published up to January 21, 2021. Three electronic databases were searched: Medline, Embase, and Web of Science. Studies assessing a quantitative effect of polishing methods on the Ra of direct composite resin materials published after the year 2000 and restricted to the English language were included.ResultsThe database search for the effect of polishing systems on composite materials retrieved 125 eligible studies. Twelve duplicate records were removed. The resulting records were screened using title and abstract leading to 38 reports which were sought for retrieval. Application of eligibility criteria led to 11 studies included in the review. Hand searching of these studies yielded no additional papers.ConclusionsThere is insufficient evidence to determine whether combination of composite and polisher influences final Ra. More research is required to determine if there is an optimum combination of polisher and composite.Clinical ImplicationsPolishing should be completed following planned finishing procedures. The approximation to the final surface and which finishing burs to use, if any, should be considered when planning a restoration. Durafill VS predictably achieves an acceptable Ra by different polishers.