ABSTRACT
Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the surface characteristics of colored titanium molybdenum alloy archwires (purple-coated TMA and honey dew-coated TMA) and the regular titanium molybdenum alloy archwires. Materials and Methods: The experiment comprised three groups, Group I – regular TMA archwires, Group II – purple-coated TMA archwires, Group III – honey dew-coated TMA wires involving 21 samples each. The surface characteristics were assessed using scanning electron microscopy and optical profilometer. Results: The results were statistically analyzed using analysis of variance wherein Group I regular TMA wires exhibited a root mean square value of 148.071 nm and a standard deviation of 9.0027 nm followed by group II (purple-coated TMA wires) which showed a root mean square value of 84.095 nm with a standard deviation of 2.6005 nm, while group III (honey dew-coated TMA wires) was found to have a root mean square value of 71.681 nm with a standard deviation of 1.4645 nm on subjecting to optical profilometry. Conclusion: The surface roughness is higher for regular TMA wire exhibiting superior characteristic of color-coated TMA wires, especially honey dew-coated TMA wires over the regular and purple-coated TMA wires. This property of the archwires details regarding its application in both sliding and frictionless mechanics in retraction phase of fixed orthodontic treatment.
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to develop a customized polishing protocol using standard zirconia polishing kit with polishers of different grit and to study their effect on the surface roughness of zirconia and compare it to that of laboratory polished zirconia samples and machine polished titanium implant abutments. Methods: The samples used in this study were 15 zirconia blocks and 10 machine polished titanium implant abutments (5 Biohorizon and 5 MIS). The 15 zirconia blocks were again divided into three groups. The first group consisted of 5 zirconia samples polished by customised polishing protocol (coarse + medium+ fine). The second group consisted of 5 zirconia samples which were sent to lab1 which used Komet company burs and 5 zirconia samples were sent to lab2 which used carborundum burs and sandpaper for polishing. The fourth group consisted of 5 machine polished titanium implants from MIS system and fifth group consisted of 5 machine polished titanium implants from Biohorizon system. After polishing, the mean surface roughness values (Ra) of zirconia samples and titanium implant abutments were calculated quantitatively by optical profilometer and qualitatively by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Results: The mean surface roughness value of customised polishing protocol using coarse+medium+fine polisher was 0.11 µm which was almost equal to the mean surface roughness values of lab1 polished zirconia samples - 0.131 µm and that of machine polished titanium implant abutments –Biohorizon: 0.201 µm MIS: 0.0859 µm and was within the optimal range of 0.2µm. Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study it was concluded that, the mean surface roughness values of zirconia samples polished by customised polishing protocol , lab1 polished samples and machine polished titanium implant abutments were found to be similar & closer to the critical Ra values (0.2µm) suggesting that the chairside polishing of zirconia can be carried out using the customized polishing technique