Rubber Cup

Abstract: A study was made to determine the efficacy of a new jet abrasive tooth-polishing device and its effect on enamel surfaces. Extracted teeth with extrinsic stain were polished with the jet abrasive. Smoothed enamel surfaces were polished with the jet abrasive, a rubber cup with paste, and an ultrasonic instrument. The surface alterations were then compared.

Abstract: This study investigated the effect of various hygiene maintenance procedures on the surface finish of minifill (Filtek A110 [AO], 3M-ESPE), flowable (Filtek Flow [FF], 3M-ESPE) and poly-acid-modified (F2000 [FT], 3M-ESPE) composites. Procedures included pumice-water slurry with rotating brush (PB), pumice-water slurry with rotating rubber cup (PC), prophylaxis paste with rubber cup (ZC), prophylaxis gel with rubber cup (GC) and air-powder polishing (AP). Specimens not exposed to these procedures were used as the control group. For each material, 48 specimens (3-mm long x 3-mm wide x 2-mm deep) were made and stored in distilled water at 37 degrees C for one month. The specimens were then treated with 1200 grit sandpaper using a lapping device, stored for an additional two months in distilled water at 37 degrees C and randomly divided into six groups (n=8). The mean surface roughness (Ra, microm) of the specimens after exposure to the various hygiene procedures was determined using a surface profilometer. Data was subjected to ANOVA/Scheffe's test at significance level 0.05. Mean Ra values ranged from 0.09 to 2.17, 0.06 to 1.38 and 0.38 to 1.25 for AO, FF and FT, respectively. The effect of hygiene procedures on surface roughness was material dependent. Among the various procedures, the smoothest surface was observed after treatment with prophylaxis gel and the roughest with air-powder polishing. For all materials, the use of pumice-water slurry with brush also caused significant roughening. Composite restorations may require re-polishing after exposure to some hygiene maintenance procedures, as Ra values exceeded the critical threshold surface roughness for bacterial adhesion (0.2 microm).

Abstract: During fabrication of bonded ceramic restorations, cervical adaptation, occlusal adjustment and final finishing/polishing are procedures to be performed at the dental office after adhesive cementation. Final adjustments may result in loss of ceramic glaze, which requires new polishing of the ceramic surface, with special attention for selection of adequate materials and instruments. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of different vehicles associated with diamond pastes indicated for dental ceramic polishing. Two polishing pastes (Crystar Paste and Diamond Excell) associated with four vehicles (rubber cup, Robinson bristle brush, felt wheel and buff disc) were evaluated. Disc-shaped specimens were fabricated from Ceramco II dental ceramic. Surface roughness means (Ra) of the ceramic specimens were determined with a rugosimeter. Data were analyzed statistically by two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test at 5% significance level. There was no statistically significant difference (p>0.01) between the polishing pastes. However, there were statistically significant differences (p<0.01) among the tested vehicles. Vehicle-paste interaction showed statistically significant difference (p<0.05) as well. It may be concluded that: 1) Robinson bristle brush, felt wheel and buff disc were efficient vehicles to be used in association with a diamond polishing paste; 2) The use of rubber cup as a vehicle showed poor efficiency for mechanical polishing of the ceramic surfaces; 3) Both pastes provided similar and efficient polishing and may be recommended for use with an appropriated vehicle.

Abstract: Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the cleaning effectiveness of implant prophylaxis instruments on polished and acid-etched implant surfaces. Materials and methods Biofilm layers of Streptococcus mutans were grown on a total of 80 titanium disks; 40 disks were polished and 40 were acid-etched. Five disks of each surface were cleaned using each of seven implant prophylaxis instruments: (1) manual plastic curette, (2) manual carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) curette, (3) sonic-driven prophylaxis brush, (4) rotating rubber cup with prophylaxis paste, (5) sonic-driven polyether ether ketone (PEEK) plastic tip, (6) ultrasonic-driven PEEK plastic tip, and (7) air polishing with amino acid (glycine) powder. Ten disks (five of each surface type) served as controls. After cleaning, the surfaces with remaining bacteria were assessed by light microscopy. Statistical analyses of the results were performed with one-way and two-way analyses of variance with Bonferroni-Dunn multiple comparisons post hoc analysis (α = .05). Results The cleaning effectiveness of the plastic curette was significantly lower than those of all machine-driven instruments on the polished surface. Significantly lower cleaning effectiveness occurred with the CFRP curette compared to the prophylaxis brush and to both oscillating PEEK plastic tips on the polished surface. The rubber cup provided less cleaning effectiveness compared to the ultrasonic PEEK plastic tip and air polishing on the acid-etched surface. Superior results, with less than 4% of the biofilm remaining, were obtained for both oscillating PEEK plastic tips and air polishing on both implant surfaces. The cleaning ability of the prophylaxis brush, rubber cup, and ultrasonic PEEK plastic tip differed significantly between both surface structures. Conclusions Cleaning effectiveness, ie, less than 4% of the biofilm remaining, was not observed with all tested implant prophylaxis instruments. The cleaning ability of the devices depended on the implant surface structure.