An evaluation of three methods of polishing porcelain by comparison of surface topography with the original glaze.

The value of a procedure for polishing porcelain restorations that would avoid the necessity of glazing in a furnace following minor chairside adjustments is discussed. The efficacy of three polishing systems--a diamond paste, a pumice and water slurry followed by whiting, and a proprietary method--were tested in the laboratory using surface profile recording. The results showed that both the diamond paste and the pumice/whiting gave surface finishes similar to the original glazed surface. The smoothest surface was produced by the diamond paste. The proprietary porcelain finishing kit created the least smooth surface.