Objectives: Purpose of the present study was to evaluate the surface roughness of current ceramics before and after tooth brushing abrasion, using simulated tooth brushing wear testing.
Materials and Methods: 40 ceramic samples (Zirconia ceramics, Vita Enamic, Lava Ultimate, & E-max ceramics) were cut from corresponding 4 types of ceramic blocks using microtome, then 40 samples were divided into 4 groups (n=10). Each sample has a fixed dimension about
10 x 10 x 2mm (thickness). The 3-body simulated tooth brushing wear testing was performed using a programmable logic controlled equipment; ROBOTA chewing simulator* integrated with thermo-cyclic protocol, then Surface roughness of each material (Ra) was measured with USB digital surface profile gauge.
Results: Total effect of material; regardless to toothbrush wear simulation cycles, totally there was no-significant (p=0.1379 > 0.05) difference between all materials where (Zr ≥ e.max ≥V enamic ≥ L ultimate) with their mean values respectively after 24 months (Zr; 0.25898 ±0.0035, e.max; 0.25428 ±0.0029, V enamic; 0.25413 ±0.0049, L ultimate; 0.25403 ±0.0028). Total effect of toothbrush wear simulation cycles; irrespective of material, totally toothbrush wear simulation cycles did not affect roughness significantly (p=0.8281 > 0.05) difference between all materials where (18 m ≥ baseline ≥ 6 m ≥24 m ≥ 12 m).
Conclusions: Brushing of ceramic materials with conventional dentifrices non-significantly increased surface roughness, where results of surface roughness present within the clinically acceptable range, not insult the patient intraorally.