Exploring Technological Progress in Three-Dimensional Imaging for Root Canal Treatments: A Systematic Review.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Root canal therapy is a crucial aspect of endodontic treatment aimed at preserving natural dentition. Over the years, advancements in three-dimensional (3D) technology have revolutionized diagnosis and treatment planning. Different 3D technologies are used in dental care, such as cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), which ensures 3D slice visualization, root canal microanatomy, and dynamic navigation throughout the pulp cavity. By exploring the latest technological progress in this field, we seek to understand how these innovations are enhancing precision, efficiency, and patient outcomes, shedding light on the benefits and potential impact of 3D imaging in improving root canal procedures. METHODS: Literature was searched from different databases, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, The Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Inclusion criteria involved studies on 3D technology in root canal therapy with comparison groups, including RCTs and non-RCTs. Excluded studies lacked 3D imaging advancements, a control group, or were review articles or case studies. Quality assessment utilized QUIN for in vitro studies and ROBINS-I for non-RCTs to evaluate the studies' validity. RESULTS: According to the PRISMA guidelines, among 5015 initial articles, 16 were included. CBCT was the most used 3D imaging technique for root imaging followed by micro-computed tomography (MCT) and limited CBCT (LCBCT) imaging methods. 2D radiographs and 2D histological methods and clearing techniques were the most common comparative modalities. Overall, 3D imaging streamlined dental treatment as clinicians could visualize much clearer and higher-quality images. Different resolutions and voxel sizes were applied to improve imaging quality. CONCLUSION: Three-dimensional imaging, especially CBCT, improves root canal treatments by providing superior image quality. CBCT outperforms other techniques like MCT and LCBCT, enhancing clarity. Varying resolutions and voxel sizes optimize the effectiveness of 3D imaging in root canal therapy. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The advancements in 3D imaging technology, particularly CBCT, have significantly enhanced the diagnosis and treatment planning for root canal therapy. CBCT provides detailed insights into intricate root canal anatomy, improving diagnostic accuracy.

Biometric analysis of furcation area of molar teeth and its relationship with instrumentation.

The anatomy of furcation favours the bacterial retention and makes periodontal debridement as well as oral hygiene procedures difficult. Teeth that have lost attachment to a level of the furcation are said to have a furcal invasion or furcation involved.Involvement of furcation in a multi-rooted tooth poses a very different type of clinical situation in terms of establishment of diagnosis, determination of prognosis and of course planning the treatment modality.The present study was carried out on 200 selected extracted human first and second permanent molar teeth based on a predefined criteria. Teeth with prosthetic crowns, fused or fractured roots, those not fully developed, grossly carious or heavily restored at the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) were excluded from the study. The morphology of the root trunk was recorded by measuring various dimensions of the root trunk,including furcal angle and root trunk volume was calculated by using a custom made special apparatus. The furcation areas were debrided with different types of curettes in the market in order to see how best the instrument could be maneuvered in the furcation area. The data so obtained was statistically analysed using SPSS version 22. The highest root trunk volume and the longest root trunk length were found to be in the maxillary second molar. 48.60% furcations didn't allow instrument engagementof furcation area with standard area specific curettes. The proposal of inclusion of root trunk length (mm) is suggested in addition to classification of FI to have assess prognosis and appropriate treatment for of the involved tooth.

Prevalence of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome in oncological patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) has garnered increasing attention in recent years due to its potential association with cancer. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the prevalence of OSAS in cancer patients through a comprehensive analysis of existing literature. METHODS: This systematic review and meta-analysis, conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol, aimed to evaluate the prevalence of OSAS in cancer patients. A comprehensive search of electronic databases was performed to identify relevant studies published up to September 2021. Eligible studies reporting on the prevalence of OSAS in cancer patients, encompassing various study designs, were included in the analysis. Pooled estimates of the odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random effects model. Heterogeneity among the studies was assessed using the I2 statistic. RESULTS: Seventeen studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were subsequently included in the review. The prevalence of OSAS in cancer patients was estimated to have an overall OR of 0.80 (95% CI: 0.75-0.85). In comparison with non-cancer patients, cancer patients had a statistically significant greater risk of OSAS, as indicated by the total estimated RR for the prevalence of OSAS in cancer patients, which was 0.89 (95% CI: 0.86-0.92). Nonetheless, there was a significant amount of heterogeneity (I2 = 96%) among the studies. CONCLUSION: The overall data analysed in this review indicates that patients with cancer had far reduced likelihood of developing OSAS than individuals without cancer. However, the significant variation across the included studies highlights the need for additional investigation to fully clarify the complex association between OSAS and cancer incidence. These results emphasise how critical it is to identify OSAS as a possible comorbidity in cancer patients, one that should be taken into account for clinical management and ongoing research.

Identification of prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and various risk factors in dentists.

Purpose: The awkward and repetitive movements lead to tissue straining, potentially leading to painful musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). MSDs in dentists result in work inefficiency and a reduction in work hours. A survey was conducted to assess the prevalence of MSDs amongst the dental population of interest. Methods: Customized individual detail questionnaires, Standard Nordic Musculoskeletal questionnaires, and Level of Pain estimation using the Likert Scale were used to deduce the various responsible risk factors for the occurrence of MSDs in dentists. Inferential statistical analysis was done to identify the prevalence and severity of the MSDs. The Chi-Square test (95 % confidence interval) was used to identify and compare the association of risk factors involved in MSDs with the occurrence of the Effect of MSDs, the presence of MSDs, and the severity of the MSDs. Results: The results of the study deduced that the dentists followed the sedentary work practices. The dentists experienced maximum discomfort in the neck region, which was accompanied by the discomfort experienced in the lower back, hands and wrists, making the upper extremity being more susceptible to the MSDs. Gender risk factors the, the prevalence of MSDs in the dentist's upper back, and the severity of pain in the upper back region showed a significant association level. Conclusion: The wrist posture, the prevalence of MSDs and the severity of pain in the dentists' neck, shoulder and upper back showed a significant association level.

Comparative Evaluation of Gingival Crevicular Fluid Interleukin-17, 18 and 21 in Different Stages of Periodontal Health and Disease.

Background and Objectives: The elicitation of a host's immune−inflammatory responses to overcome oral bacterial biofilm challenges is mediated by numerous cytokines. We explored the role of three such cytokines, viz. interleukin (IL)-17, 18 and 21, by measuring their levels in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of Indian individuals with healthy gingiva, chronic gingivitis, or chronic periodontitis. Materials and Method: Ninety systemically healthy individuals were enrolled in the study on the basis of predefined criteria and were categorized into three groups of 30 participants each. Groups A, B and C were composed of a control group with healthy gingiva, subjects with chronic gingivitis and subjects with chronic periodontitis, respectively. The periodontal disease status was assessed on the basis of a subject's gingival index, probing pocket depth, clinical attachment loss and radiographic evidence of bone loss. After the complete history-taking and identification of gingival sulcus/pocket depth areas for GCF collection, a sample was collected from each subject in all groups for an estimation of the cytokine levels using ELISA. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v 21.0. Intergroup comparisons were conducted using a post hoc Tukey's test. A value of p < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: The mean IL-17, 18 and 21 concentrations in pg/mL was the greatest for Group C (99.67 ± 18.85, 144.61 ± 20.83 and 69.67 ± 12.46, respectively), followed by Group B (19.27 ± 2.78, 22.27 ± 2.43 and 22.74 ± 1.43, respectively) and finally by Group A (healthy control; 11.56 ± 0.99, 17.94 ± 1.24 and 12.83 ± 1.21 respectively). A statistically significant difference in the mean concentrations of two interleukins (IL-17 and IL-18) was observed between Groups A and C and also between Groups B and C. A statistically significant difference in the mean concentrations of IL-21 was observed between Groups B and C. Conclusions: Within the limitations of the present study, the findings revealed that the GCF levels of IL-17, IL-18 and IL-21 rose and correlated well with the severity of the disease. Thus, these cytokines present in GCF have the potential to be considered as biomarkers for periodontal tissue destruction. IL-21 in particular appears to be a promising biomarker for differentiating between gingivitis and periodontitis.

Histopathologic Feature of Hyalinization Predicts Recurrence of Conventional/Solid Multicystic Ameloblastomas.

The histologic properties of tumors seem to affect their biological behavior, and the same holds good for solid multicystic ameloblastoma (SMA), a benign, locally destructive lesion. Hyalinization is one such histological factor that has been demonstrated to correlate with the biological behavior of neoplasms. The present study aimed to analyze the correlation between the severity of hyalinization (SOH) and the recurrence potential of SMAs. The study was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) diagnosed archival cases of SMA, follicular SMA (n = 35) and plexiform SMA (n = 25). The cases were evaluated for SOH and scored from 0-3, and the correlation between SOH and recurrence was analyzed for statistical significance. The clinical parameters of the lesion were analyzed for statistical correlation with recurrence. The SOH significantly correlated with the recurrence of SMA (p = 0.001). The histologic type did not influence the biological behavior of SMA. The location of SMA in the body of the mandible (p = 0.036), multilocular radiolucency (p = 0.001) and root resorption (p = 0.002) also showed strong statistical correlation with recurrence. It is evident from the present study that hyalinization strongly correlates with the biological behavior of SMA. Future studies with advanced investigations could validate the presence of hyalinization and identify the origin of the hyalinized product in SMAs.

Depleting levels of endogenous anti-oxidant superoxide dismutase in oral sub-mucous fibrosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: The systematic review is aimed to assess the antioxidant status by superoxide dismutase level in oral sub-mucous fibrosis using available literature. Materials and methods: A literature search was accomplished electronically in Pubmed (MeSH), Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science core collection, Cochrane, and Cross-reference, using the keywords such as 'oral submucous fibrosis,' 'antioxidant status' and 'superoxide dismutase.' Results: Of the 352 articles identified, only 16 satisfied the selection criteria and were included in the systematic review. Among the selected, six studies were included for serum level analysis of superoxide dismutase. The assessment showed a significant reduction of serum superoxide dismutase in oral submucous fibrosis patients than in control (p < 0.004). The mean difference in serum superoxide dismutase concentration between oral submucous fibrosis and healthy subjects was -86.23 U/ml (95% CI -145.30, -27.17). The serum SOD level was significantly reduced as the disease progressed to stage I or stage II (p < 0.001) compared to the control group. Conclusion: The studies showed significantly lower levels of superoxide dismutase in various human samples of patients with OSMF. Therefore, further studies are required to estimate antioxidant status using different biomarkers of oral submucous fibrosis concerning different stages of the disease in order to augment future therapy. Clinical relevance: Assessment of antioxidant activity helps to identify the patients at risk of malignant transformation. It serves as a reliable guide to validate therapy. It serves as a marker of prognosis in patients suffering from oral submucous fibrosis.

Examining the Effect of Gravity on Different Irrigation Systems: An In vitro Study.

BACKGROUND: Periapical extrusion is frequently observed during endodontic therapy. It can lead to acute injury of periapical tissues, resulting in interappointment pain or swelling. The effect is pronounced in teeth with immature apex, which are more susceptible to the extrusion of irrigant. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of gravity on the apical extrusion of irrigating solution with different irrigation protocols in single-rooted premolars. METHODOLOGY: A total number of 80 permanent single-rooted teeth (premolars) with same working length (WL) were divided into two main groups: Group A: Penetration depth of irrigation syringe to 2 mm from the WL and Group B: Penetration depth of irrigation syringe to 4 mm from the WL. Each group was subdivided into four subgroups. (n = 10). The extruded debris and irrigants were weighed, and the data were statistically analyzed by the analysis of variance and the Tukey test. RESULTS: Irrespective of the irrigation technique used, the amount of irrigant extruded from the apex showed a statistically significant difference related to the effect of gravity (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference observed between irrigation methods (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The degree of apical extrusion of irrigant was dependent on the type of irrigation technique and gravity. Greater caution should be taken during irrigation to prevent postoperative pain.

COVID 19 Scoping: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The world has faced the pandemic of COVID-19 in the march of 2020 and still it continues to effect in 2021. Hence, in the present study we aim to evaluate the gulps in the research so that certain recommendations can be made for the future research. We conducted a scoping review of the COVID meta-analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Online data was collected from the search engines of EBSCO, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus. The searched terms were COVID-19, CORONA, SARS-CoV-2, clinical features, Wuhan, etc. The study articles were collected that from January 2020 to February 2021. Based on the PRISMA guidelines, the meta-analysis was performed. RESULTS: In the present study, we finalized 316 articles. On February 2020, the first article was published. We observed a spike in the meta-analysis later on. Most of the meta-analysis were issued in the virology and infection magazines. As expected, the majority studies were from Wuhan. The other countries that published the meta-analysis were the USA, the UK, and Italy. The studies included in each meta-analysis were nearly 25 and the subjects were approximately 16 thousand. However, we noticed a poor quality in majority of these meta-analysis and <10% of all the meta-analysis showed higher confidence. CONCLUSION: A poor quality of the meta-analysis has predominated the data and very few are of high quality. All the journal editors and the reviewing team should verify and thoroughly organize the protocol so that only high quality meta-analysis are encouraged.

Can Herbal Extracts Serve as Antibacterial Root Canal Irrigating Solutions? Antimicrobial Efficacy of Tylophora indica, Curcumin longa, Phyllanthus amarus, and Sodium Hypochlorite on Enterococcus faecalis Biofilms Formed on Tooth Substrate: In Vitro Study.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of Tylophora indica, Curcumin longa, and Phyllanthus amarus on Enterococcus faecalis biofilms formed on the tooth substrate. Sodium hypochlorite was used as a positive control. DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide), the vehicle for the herbal extracts, was used as the negative control. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Extracted human teeth were biomechanically prepared, vertically sectioned, placed in the tissue culture wells exposing the root canal surface to E. faecalis to form a biofilm. At the end of the third week, all groups were treated for 15 min with the test solutions and the control. The results were analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. RESULTS: Statistical analysis was performed by using one-way analysis of variance and compared by the Mann-Whitney test using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software, version 20.0. The qualitative assay with the 3-week biofilm on the canal portion showed complete inhibition of bacterial growth for NaOCl, whereas samples treated with herbal solutions showed significant reduction of bacterial growth compared to control group, which showed 139.9 × 109 CFU/mL among the experimental herbal solutions groups. P. amarus has shown maximum bacterial count followed by C. longa and T. indica. CONCLUSION: NaOCl 5% showed maximum antibacterial activity against 3-week biofilm on tooth substrate. T. indica, P. amarus, and C. longa showed statistically significant antibacterial activity against 3-week biofilm. The use of herbal alternatives might prove to be advantageous considering the several undesirable characteristics of NaOCl.

An in vitro Comparative Evaluation of Volume of Removed Dentin, Canal Transportation, and Centering Ratio of 2Shape, WaveOne Gold, and ProTaper Gold Files Using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the shaping ability of three file systems - 2Shape (2S), WaveOne Gold (WOG), and ProTaper Gold - using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-five freshly extracted mandibular teeth were chosen and instrumented using the following brands of NiTi files: 2S, WOG, and ProTaper Gold. Pre- and post-instrumentation CBCT imaging was performed to measure mesial and distal distance of the dentin walls and calculate the volume of removed dentin, apical transportation, and centering ratio. A statistical analysis of the data was performed using independent t-test. Statistical significance was set at 5%. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the 2S and WOG in terms of the total volume of removed dentin, apical transportation, and centering ratio, whereas ProTaper showed a greater significant difference when compared to 2S and WOG. CONCLUSION: Both 2S and WOG maintained the original canal anatomy better and did not remove excess dentin while chemomechanical preparation as compared to ProTaper Gold. Instruments that use rotary movement achieved an effect similar to that of the reciprocating instruments in relation to change in angle. 2S which is a two-file system and WOG which is a single-file system might perform better clinically and might show enhanced shaping ability with less canal transportation and more centered preparation when compared to ProTaper Gold that is a multiple file-system.

Levels of Mercury in Fish-Eating Children, With and Without Amalgam Restoration.

BACKGROUND: Mercury is a naturally occurring metal that exists in three forms: elemental (metallic), inorganic, and organic mercury. Amalgam, which is an alloy of inorganic mercury, is used as a restorative material in dentistry. Organic mercury gets ingested in the body mainly by the consumption of seafood. Mercury is also stated to cause various adverse health effects such as gastrointestinal disturbances, dermatitis, muscle weakness, and neurological disorders. In recent years, the use of amalgam has become a controversy stating the various adverse effects of mercury. Hence, the study was conducted to determine and compare the variation in levels of organic and inorganic mercury in fish-eating children before and after placement of amalgam restoration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-five subjects, 42 males (56%) and 35 females (44%) of age group ranging 7-13 years, living in South Canara district of Karnataka, India, were selected as a part of the study. Hair and urine samples were collected for estimation of organic and inorganic levels of mercury, respectively. Informed consent was collected from all the participating subjects. RESULTS: On comparison between organic and inorganic mercury levels during the study period, the concentration of organic mercury in hair samples was greater irrespective of amalgam restorations present (1.172 and 0.085, respectively; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Thus inorganic levels of mercury do not seem to pose a threat as much as the organic levels observed in hair, which remain fairly constant for a longer period of time. Hence in a coastal region where this study was undertaken and fish being a staple food, the risk could probably be attributed to more of an organic toxicity than an inorganic one. Thus amalgam is relatively safe to be practiced and the controversy against it should be reevaluated.

A Comparative Evaluation of Five Obturation Techniques in the Management of Simulated Internal Resorptive Cavities: An Ex Vivo Study.

BACKGROUND: Root resorption is the loss of dental hard tissues as a result of clastic activities. It might be broadly classified into external or internal resorption by the location of the resorption in relation to the root surface. the various techniques used these days for filling internal resorption include warm condensation, vertical condensation, core techniques, thermoplasticized gutta-percha, warm vertical compaction, and cold lateral condensation. OBJECTIVES: The aims and objectives of this study were to compare the quality of root fillings in artificially created internal resorption cavities filled with warm vertical compaction, lateral condensation, Obtura II along with System B, E and Q plus along with System B, and Thermafil, and to calculate the percentage of gutta-percha, sealer, and voids using an ImageJ software. RESULTS: Results between the warm vertical compaction (group I), lateral condensation (group II), Obtura II with System B (group III), E and Q plus with System B (group IV), and Thermafil (group V), group III showed the highest percentage of gutta-percha plus sealer and gutta-percha, and least number of voids, which was statistically significant (P < 0.000). CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that Obtura II along with System B was found to be the most suitable obturation technique for the management of teeth exhibiting internal resorption. Thermafil was found to give the poorest obturation quality when used to fill the teeth with internal resorption. Similarly, lateral condensation technique was observed to show maximum sealer and hence was not ideal for the management of internal resorptive cavities.

Shaping Ability of 2Shape and WaveOne Gold Files Using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the apical transportation, centering ability, and volume of removed dentin of WaveOne Gold (WOG) and 2Shape with the use of cone-beam computed tomography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Freshly extracted mandibular teeth with sample size of thirty were carefully chosen and instrumented using the 2Shape and WOG rotary files. Preoperative and postinstrumentation cone-beam computed tomographic scans were done to accomplish mesial and distal dentin walls' measurements and volume of removed dentin calculations, apical transportation, and centering ratio. Statistical analysis was performed and confirmed by independent t-test. Statistical significance was set at 5%. RESULTS: When shaping ability of 2Shape and WOG was evaluated, it was reported that there was no statistically significant differences noted among the groups in relation to the total volume of removed dentin, apical transportation, and centering ratio. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that 2Shape and WOG preserved the original canal anatomy well and did not eliminate excess dentin during shaping and cleaning. Rotary nickel-titanium files which work on the principle of rotary movement attained an outcome analogous to that of the rotary files working on reciprocating motion in relation to alteration in angle.

Prosthodontic Management of a Pediatric Patient with Christ-Siemens-Touraine Syndrome: A Case Report.

Ectodermal dysplasias (ED) are a group of rare genetic disorders characterized by congenital defects involving two or more ectodermal structures. Christ-Siemens-Touraine syndrome or hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia is the commonest form of ED. Hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED) is an X-linked disorder characterized by excessively dry skin due to the absence of sweat glands (anhidrosis), sparse body hair especially on the scalp and eyebrows (hypotrichosis), brittle nails, absence of sebaceous glands (asteatosis) and malformed or absent teeth. Oral manifestations include oligodontia or complete anodontia, conical teeth, underdeveloped alveolar ridges, generalized spacing and delayed eruption of permanent teeth. This case report discusses a classical case of HED and the options for rehabilitation in a growing patient. A thorough knowledge about the clinical manifestations of ED will lead to proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan thereby leading to significant improvements in esthetics, phonetics and masticatory function in ED patients, which in turn leads to improved quality of life in these individuals. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Abdulla AM, Almaliki AY, Shakeela NV, et al. Prosthodontic Management of a Pediatric Patient with Christ-Siemens-Touraine Syndrome: A Case Report. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2019;12(6):569-572.

Resistance to torsional failure and cyclic fatigue resistance of ProTaper Next, WaveOne, and Mtwo files in continuous and reciprocating motion: An in vitro study.

AIMS: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the resistance to torsional failure and cyclic fatigue resistance of ProTaper Next (PTN), WaveOne, and Mtwo files in continuous and reciprocating motion. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Randomized control trial in a tertiary care setting. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 10 new size 25.06 taper PTN X2, 25.06 taper Mtwo files, and 25.08 taper WaveOne primary files each was selected. A custom fabricated cyclic fatigue testing device with a 70° angle of curvature and 3 mm width; curvature starting at 6 mm from the tip was used. All instruments were rotated and reciprocated till fracture occurred and time till fracture of each instrument was recorded in seconds. For torsional failure testing 5 mm tip of each file was embedded in composite resin block and uniform torsional stresses (300 rpm, 2.0 Ncm) were applied repetitively by an endodontic motor with auto stop mode until file succumbed to torsional failure. Number of load applications leading to failure was recorded. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Data were analyzed using t-test for equality of means, Pearson correlation, and ANOVA test. RESULTS: All the files showed superior resistance to cyclic fatigue in reciprocating motion when compared with continuous rotation mode. WaveOne primary files displayed maximum resistance to cyclic fatigue both in continuous and reciprocating motion. WaveOne primary files also demonstrated maximum resistance to torsional failure followed by PTN with Mtwo files exhibiting least resistance. CONCLUSIONS: Operating files in reciprocating motion enhances their cyclic fatigue resistance. WaveOne files showed maximum resistance to cyclic fatigue and torsional failure due to their cross-sectional diameter coupled M-Wire technology.

Three-dimensional evaluation of surface roughness of resin composites after finishing and polishing.

AIM: This study aims to investigate the effects of finishing and polishing procedures on four novel resin composites using three-dimensional optical profilometer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four composites classified according to their filler size, were selected: Filtek™ Z350 XT/Nanofill (3M™ ESPE™), Esthet-X HD/Hybrid (Dentsply Caulk), Te Econom/Microfill (Ivoclar Vivadent(®)), Tetric EvoCeram(®) /Nanohybrid (Ivoclar Vivadent(®)). Composite specimens were made in Plexiglass mold and polished with Soflex (3M ESPE), Enhance + Pogo (Dentsply Caulk). Both the systems were used according to the manufacturers' instructions, and the polished surfaces were assessed with an optical profilometer. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Kruskal-Wallis test and further pairwise comparison were performed by Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: The smoothest surfaces for all the resin composites tested were obtained from the Mylar strip; statistically significant differences were observed among them (P = 0.001). The order of composites was ranked from the lowest to highest surface roughness; Filtek Z350 XT < Te Econom < Tetric EvoCeram < Esthet XHD. Pairwise multiple comparison with Mann-Whitney test showed Filtek Z350 to have the smoothest surface and the least with Teric EvoCeram. Among the polishing systems, Soflex showed the smoothest surface and was significantly different from Pogo (P = 0.046). CONCLUSIONS: The effectiveness of the polishing systems seems to be dependent on the material used, treatment modality and also on the filler particle size.