DENT MAT - FINISHING AND POLISHING
Feb. 27, 2018 - Dr. Rocacurva
(italics denote sidenotes)
Definition of terms
o Finishing – removing surface defects or scratches created
during contouring
o Contouring – creating the desired anatomical form by
cutting or grinding away excess material
o Grinding – removing material from the restoration by
abrasion with coarse particles
o Buffing – process of producing a glossy/lustrous surface
using fine abrasives with or without a paste medium
o Polishing – process of producing luster or gloss on a
material surface
History
rotary instruments make F&P faster
(see pictures, clockwise from upper left – amalgam, denture,
denture, oral prophylaxis)
When do we use abrasives in dentistry?
o oral prophylaxis (for cleaning debris)
o occlusal adjustment of enamel (when teeth are not
the same shape and the patient does not want a
restoration)
o contouring and removal of excess material from
restoration
o removal of debris
o fine polishing for gloss and luster (of the final
restoration)
Cutting
o involves use of a bladed instrument in a bladelike
manner (more flutes on burr = finer reduction)
o substrate may be divided into segments or sustain
deep notches and grooves
o done in one direction (!!!)
o ex: using stainless steel and tungsten carbide burs
Contouring
o use of fine cutting instrument for better control of
contouring and surface details
o step wherein we establish the anatomy and
margins of the restoration
o ex: 12 to 16-fluted carbide burs
gross reduction - diamond burr
better control - 12 to 16 fluted carbide burr for finer reduction
Finishing
o introducing finer scratches to remove the deeper
scratches on restoration surface
o blemish-free smooth surface
o ex: 18 to 30-fluted carbide burs, fine and superfine
diamond burs
deep scratches are fixed step by step from coarse to fine to
slowly remove them
Polishing
o produce enamel-like luster on surface, refining the
restoration to remove the finest surface particles
THREE IMPORTANT FACTORS IN ABRASION
o size
o speed (fast = faster reduction and abrasion, more
efficient grinding)
o pressure
o high speed with low pressure gives a high cutting
efficiency (with enough lubrication)
o fast and high pressure can lead to a heavy or deep
scratch
譚小𡝭 PANOGAN DENT 3A
o starts from the finest abrasive that can remove
scratches, progressing to finer polishing
instruments until desired level of smoothness is
achieved
principle is the same - from finest to more fine until we are
satisfied with the gloss we have produced
Abrasion
o the process of finishing a restoration or material
(substrate) involves abrasive wear using hard
particles of an abrading instrument (abrasive)
o abrasives come in the form of: diamond burs,
discs, pastes, powders, abrasive stones, wheels,
cups, and points
Types of Abrasion
1.) Two-body Abrasion
o Abrasive particles are firmly bonded to
the surface of the abrasive instrument
o Ex: diamond bur abrading tooth surface
2.) Three-body Abrasion
o Abrasive particles are free to rotate
between two surfaces
o Ex: prophylaxis paste placed in a rubber
cup
o T
o
increase efficiency of cutting and grinding, we use
lubricants like water, glycerin, or silicone.
o What happens if there is too much lubricant while
cutting/grinding?
-less contact, cutting will not be uniform,
more scratches on surface, finer abrasives
cannot reach it. Polishing and polishing
will lead to an over reduced restoration
o B. What happens if there is too little lubricant while
cutting/grinding?
-heat is generated, cutting efficiency is
reduced
o lubricant also flushes away debris
Erosion
o Erosive wear is caused by abrasive particles hitting
the substrate surface through a strong stream of
liquid or air pressure
o AIR ABRASION
Instrument Design
o ABRASIVE GRITS
o Have different particle size ranges
(coarse, medium coarse, medium, fine,
and superfine)
o Coarse usually green
o Superfine usually yellow
Pic: sintered abrasive grits (green, blue, red, yellow)
o coarse gives deeper scratches
Bonded Abrasives Blue - fine, polishing
o Abrasive particles are fused onto a binder tool Pink - superfine, super-polishing
(points, wheels, separating discs, coated thin discs,
abrasive strips, etc.) Nonbonded Abrasives
o Abrasive particles are dispersed in a water-soluble
4 TYPES ACCORDING TO METHOD OF BONDING: medium, primarily for final polishing
A. SINTERED o Applied to substrate using foam, rubber, felt, cloth
B. VITREOUS BONDED o for last stage and production of gloss, then use
C. RESINOUS BONDED foam, rubber, or felt, then a rotary instrument to
D. RUBBER BONDED distribute

(pictures: sintered diamond points, vitreous bonded abrasives, Types of Abrasives

resinoid bonded abrasives, disc, large flame, small flame, o According to source
rubber cup) o According to Instrument Design
o sintered is the strongest type of bonded abrasive o According to Use
ACCORDING TO SOURCE
(picture: abrasive disc and strip) NATURAL MANUFACTURED DERIVED
Arkansas stone Silicon carbide Cuttle
o anything that is coarse is used for bulk reduction Chalk Aluminum oxide Kieselguhr
o Lower right photo: abrasive strip metal (?) Corundum Rouge
o For proximal, amalgam, orthodontics (non Diamond Tin oxide
extraction but space is needed - interproximal Emery Synthetic diamond
stripping) Garnet
o air rotary stripping
Pumice
Sand
Coated Abrasive Discs and Strips
Quartz
o most commonly used in composite restoration
Tripoli
o Abrasive particles are secured to a flexible backing
Zirconium silicate
material (heavyweight paper, metal* or Mylar*)
*moisture resistant (moisture resistance is Table according to source
important) Cuttle - pulverized shell of a mollusk
Kieselguhr - from an aquatic plant called diatom
(picture: discs and colors) Alumina - sintered form of _____
Black - coarse, contouring 🔸diatomaceous earth for hydrocolloid materials
Violet - medium, finishing

ACCORDING TO INSTRUMENT DESIGN

BONDED ABRASIVES COATED ABRASIVES AIR ABRASIVES GRIT PASTE
Aluminum oxide Aluminum oxide Aluminum oxide Pumice Natural diamond
Carborundum Cuttle Sand Tin oxide Synthetic diamond
Natural diamond Emery
Arkansas stone Garnet
Synthetic diamond Quartz
Pumice Sand
Silicon carbide Silicon carbide
Zirconium silicate
Pumice - most common, mix with water to form a slurry to clean surfaces of the teeth after prophy or for cavity prep cleaning
Tin oxide - for amalgam F&P

ACCORDING TO USE 1
METAL ALLOYS RESIN-BASED COMPOSITES CERAMIC HIGH NOBLE METALS
Aluminum oxide Aluminum oxide Aluminum oxide Rouge
Arkansas stone Natural diamond Natural diamond
Corundum Synthetic diamond Synthetic diamond
Emery Silicon carbide
Garnet
Quartz
Sand
Tripoli
Silicon carbide
Ceramic – veneers, crowns
Dark red - ???????
Cuttle – delicate polishing for metal margins of PFM
Corundum aka white stone

ACCORDING TO USE 2
TOOTH ENAMEL AMALGAM GOLD FOIL ACRYLIC RESIN
Alumina Chalk Chalk Emery
Arkansas stone Cuttle Flour of pumice (finer) Garnet
Chalk Flour of pumice (finer) Pumice
Synthetic diamond Tin oxide Sand
Flour of pumice (finer) Tripoli
Quartz Silicon carbide
Tin oxide
Zirconium silicate
🔸familiarize the tables, most common stuff etc
Flour of pumice - finer form of pumice from Italy (#imported #laysh #dentikarako)
Finishing and Polishing Techniques
o Initial contouring and smoothing with coarse abrasive or bur
o Successively finer abrasives remove the scratches produced
o If too dry, may decrease efficiency of abrasive and produce overheating

1. Why do we need to polish and do finishing procedures on restorations?

2. What are the goals of finishing and polishing?

-The goal of finishing and polishing is to produce the smoothest surface at a very limited time

What happens if a surface is rough and you keep on eating?

-Food sticks inside the grooves, which leads to plaque retention. Smooth surfaces are important for better gingival health. Bacteria will
not accumulate and produce plaque. There is better chewing efficiency (food will glide smoothly), it will minimize wear on opposing
tooth, and it is comfortable for the patient

If the surface is rough and it always hits the opposing tooth, there is stress. It will damage and eventually break the restoration

For aesthetics, (veneers and crowns) - irregular areas can be seen when patient smiles. Restore the shininess and glossiness of the tooth
to match the adjacent teeth.

You reap what you sow.

-nothing follows-