Contouring, finishing, and polishing Class 5 restorative materials.

Three materials used for class 5 restorations (composite resin, glass ionomer, and resin-modified glass ionomer) were contoured, finished, and polished using seven methods: Matrix only, Sof-Lex disks, Composite Finishing System, Enhance Finishing/Polishing System. Two Striper MFS/MPS System. Two Striper MPS polish only, and contouring burs only. Results were quantified by surface roughness and gloss (reflectance). The glass-ionomer material was rougher and less reflective than composite resin; the smoothness and gloss of the resin-modified glass ionomer were between these two extremes. The original matrix smoothness and gloss could not be reproduced with any of the contour/finish/polish techniques tested on any of the three materials. The smoothest surfaces were achieved using a sequential series of rotary abrasive instruments.