Dental cutting/ abrading materials

Dr Macharia J K
 Aim
• The aim of this unit is to describe the
armamentarium/instruments that can be used
to finish and polish different types of
prosthetic material.
 Outcome
• Readers will gain increased understanding of
the best methods of finishing and polishing
prosthesis, as determined by material type,
filler particle size and prosthesis location.
Objectives
• After studying this chapter, the student should be in a
position to:
1. Briefly define the following terms:
• Cutting
• Grinding
• Abrasion
• Finishing
• Polishing
• Abrasive
2. Recall six common abrasives that may be used for clinical
or laboratory procedures
 Introduction
 Before any restoration or appliance is placed
permanently in the mouth it should be highly
smooth.
 In spite of all the care taken during processing, an
appliance may have minor surface roughness.
 Finishing a prosthesis involves contouring to create
optimal marginal finish, without overhangs or
excess material extending beyond the surface
margin, and establishing an occlusal anatomy in
harmony with the rest of the dentition.
 Introduction
 Polishing a prosthesis involves smoothing the
surface with a series of abrasives to create the
lowest surface roughness and a high surface
lustre or polish.
 A rough surface is:
• Uncomfortable to the patient
• Food and other debris cling to it and makes
it unhygienic
• Tarnish and corrosion may occur.
 Definition of basic terms

• Cutting

• Abrasion

• Finishing

• Polishing
 Cutting
• A Cutting operation usually refers to the use of
bladed instrument or use of any instrument in a
blade like fashion.
• The substrate is divided into large separate pieces
or may sustain large deep grooves by a cutting
operation.
E.g – drilling a tooth (natural/artificial). The process
results in a somewhat smooth surface.
– done with metal burs and hand instruments to create
cavity and crown preparations, which receive permanent
restorations.
 Cutting--
• An assortment of hand-cutting dental
instruments
 Grinding
• A grinding operation remove small particles of a
substrate through the action of bounded or coated
abrasive instrument.
• The grinding instruments contain many randomly
arranged abrasive particles which produce
innumerable unidirectional scratches on material
surface.

N.B:
– Cutting and grinding are both considered to be
predominantly unidirectional in their course of action
 Abrasion

• Abrasion - is the process of wear on the surface of one

material by another material by scratching, gouging,

chiseling, tumbling, or other mechanical means. The

material that causes the wear is called an abrasive; the

material being abraded is called the substrate.

 Abrasion --
• Types of abrasion
Abrasion may be:
• A two body process, e.g. action of a diamond
bur on enamel.
• A three body process, e.g. pumice applied
with a bristle brush.
 Abrasion --
• Classification of abrasives
A. Finishing abrasives
B. Polishing abrasives
C. Cleansing abrasives.
• In dentistry, abrasive particles may be bound
together onto burs, disks, stones, wheels, or
strips or they may be used with liquids to form
a paste or slurry.
 Finishing
• The process of producing the final ideal shape and
contour of a restoration/prosthesis
• The tensile and shear stress are induced within
both the substrate and abrasive instrument but
for the abrasive to cut the substrate, the stresses
induced within the abrasive should not exceed
the stresses induced into the substrate.
 Finishing
• If the stress in the instrument exceeds that
developed in the substrate, the instrument fails to
cut, grind or polish and the blade edges will
become dull and abrasive will fracture or tear
away from their binder
 Polishing
• The process of abrading a surface to eventually
reduce the size of the scratches until the surface
appears shiny.
– applies to dentistry in regard to tooth structure and
restorative materials and also extends into everyday
life as well e.g jewellry
• The polishing is considered to be
multidirectional in its course of action
N/b: Different from shoe, furniture, car wax
polishing
 Advantages of polishing
• Minimising plaque accumulation at margins and on
surfaces of prosthesis
– Thereby promoting improved oral health
• Minimising the risk of surface staining (tarnishing )
& corrosion
• Minimising surface degradation and wear in clinical
service
– Smooth restoration/prosthesis contacts minimize wear
rates on opposing and adjacent teeth
 Advantages of polishing
• Maximising the aesthetics of the prosthesis by
creating a high lustre or polish
• Enhanced patient comfort and dentist satisfaction
• Reduced likelihood that a dentist will decide to
replace the prosthesis unnecessarily
• Oral function is enhanced
1) because food glides more freely over smooth occlusal
and embrasure surfaces during mastication
2) rough material surfaces lead to the development of high
contact stress points that can cause the loss of functional
and stabilizing contacts between teeth
 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ABRASION
AND POLISHING
The difference between an abrasive agent and a polishing
agent is difficult to define. The terms are generally
interchangeable.
• Particle size - A given agent having a large particle size
acts as an abrasive, producing scratches. The same
abrasive with a smaller particle size is a polishing agent.
• Material removed - Very little of the surface is
removed during polishing—not more than 0.005 mm
(0.002 inch).
• Speed - The optimum speed for polishing is higher than
that for abrading. Linear speed as high as 10000 ft/min
may be used. It varies with the polishing agent.
Average speed is approximately 7500 ft/min.