Surface roughness of calcium hydroxide cements after and mechanical amalgam condensation

RESUMO

The effect on surface roughness of calcium hydroxide cements under manual and mechanical amalgam condesation was evaluated using a profilometer. The cements used were Dycal, Life, Renew, VLC Dycal and one zinc phosphate cement. Amalgam was condensed into matrices representing Class I cavity preparations lined with the cements studied 10 minutes after manipulation of the base materials. The surface profile was measured 24 hours after amalgam condensation. A group without amalgam condensation was used as control. It was found no significant modification on the cements surface profile in both manual and mechanical condensation groups. Renew was the only cement that showed surface roughness (Ra) statistically higher than the other cements. However, that was not significant at the clinical point of view. Zinc phosphate cement presented the higher roughness profile as compared to calcium hydroxide cements