Evaluation of various cleaning and polishing methods on primary enamel.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of cleaning and polishing methods on primary enamel surfaces. Fifty-nine extracted or exfoliated caries free primary anterior human teeth were used. The cleaning and polishing methods used in this study were as follows: application of 10% NaOCl, polishing with a brush cone or a polishing brush at a low speed (600-6000 r.p.m.), polishing with a brush cone and various polishing pastes, cleaning with an air polisher Prophy-Jet or Quick-Jet with NaHCO3 powder and water. The following observations were obtained using the SEM: (1) Air polishing systems were useful for cleaning the enamel surface, (2) It was likely that materials such as organic films will remain on the enamel surface polished with a brush cone or polishing brush alone, and (3) The effect of 10% NaOCl application for 30 seconds was the lowest.