Air-powder abrasive devices are well liked to support professional tooth cleaning. In various investigations it had been demonstrated that short term treatment of enamel and dental restorations with an air-powder abrasive device increases surface roughness. Objective: To assess in vitro to what extent prolonged treatment time influences surface roughness of the cleaned teeth and restorations. Methods: Each 30 samples out of human enamel, compomer (Dyract AP), composite resin (Herculite XRV), amalgam (Dispersalloy), gold cast alloy (Degulor C) and heat pressed ceramic (IPS Empress) were produced and polished with a 2400 grit paper. Subsequently, the specimens were treated with an air-powder abrasive (Prophyflex2, KaVo, Biberach/Germany) for 5, 20 and 60 seconds. Prior to the first treatment and following each treatment interval the surface roughness was measured by means of a profilometer (M4P, Mahr, Göttingen/Germany). Results: The following mean roughness values (Ra in µm) were computed: 0.06, 0.09, 0.10 and 0.11 (enamel), 0.07, 0.56, 0.83 and 1.01 (compomer), 0.08, 0.36, 0.58 and 0.77 (composite resin), 0.08, 0.26, 0.33 and 0.42 (amalgam), 0.08, 0.11, 0.14 and 0.15 (gold cast alloy), 0.04, 0.04, 0.04 and 0.03 (heat pressed ceramic). Already following a treatment for 5 seconds a statistically significant increase of the Ra values was observed in all materials but not in ceramic samples (p<0.05, Wilcoxon Test). Prolonged treatment did not effect further, statistically significant increases of Ra values in enamel and in heat pressed ceramic. Conclusion: Cleaning of restorations from compomer, composite resin, amalgam or gold cast alloy by means of an air-powder abrasive device must be avoided.

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