EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT SURFACE TREATMENTS ON SURFACE ROUGHNESS OF FELDSPATHIC PORCELAINS

Aim: the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of four different surface finishing and polishing methods on the surface roughness of feldspathic ceramic materials. material and method: sixty disc-shaped (5.3x2.2 mm) feldspathic porcelain specimens were fabricated according to manufacturer’s recommendations. all specimens were grinded by finishing diamond burs from coarse to fine grained, respectively. after grinding process all specimens were glazed. porcelain discs were divided into 4 groups (n=15) randomly. in first group, specimens were only grinded with finishing diamond burs (group f). in the second group, specimens were grinded and polished with rubber porcelain polishers (group fl). in the third group, specimens were grinded and polished with diamond paste and buff disks. (group fp). the specimens of the last group were grinded and glazed (group fg). the surface roughness was evaluated with profilo- meter. also the surface of the porcelain discs were examined with scanning electron microscope (sem) and data were compromised with the profilometer. results: polishing methods were evaluated for surface roughness and the difference between groups was found statistically significant. fg group showed minimum ra values. f group was showed maximum ra values and this result was validated by surface evaluation via sem. conclusion: after the treatments applied to the feldspathic porcelain, the smoothest surface was obtained by glazing process. group fp and group fl follows glaze process, respectively. only bur treated group showed maximum surface roughness values.