{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,29]],"date-time":"2026-04-29T15:27:23Z","timestamp":1777476443383,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":0,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,27]],"date-time":"2026-04-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1777248000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Applied Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This in vitro study evaluated the effect of irrigation on different polishing protocols and their influence on the surface roughness, microhardness, and mass of resin composites. Three resin composites (Admira\u00ae Fusion, Filtek Supreme\u2122 XTE, and Ceram.X Spectra\u2122 STHV) were polished using four systems (Sof-Lex\u2122, DIATECH\u00ae ShapeGuard, Astropol\u00ae, and Enhance\u2122\/PoGo\u2122) under wet and dry conditions. Eight test groups were established for each resin composite (n = 10 per group). Vickers microhardness, surface roughness (Ra), and specimen mass were measured before and after polishing with one of the four systems, applied either with or without irrigation. For Admira\u00ae Fusion polished with Sof-Lex\u2122, Ra values were lower without irrigation (p = 0.048), whereas Filtek Supreme\u2122 XTE and Ceram.X Spectra\u2122 STHV polished with the Enhance\u2122\/PoGo\u2122 system showed lower Ra values when irrigation was used (p = 0.010 and p = 0.004, respectively). Sof-Lex\u2122 and DIATECH\u00ae ShapeGuard produced the highest microhardness values for both Admira\u00ae Fusion and Filtek Supreme\u2122 XTE. Moreover, specimens of Admira\u00ae Fusion and Ceram.X Spectra\u2122 STHV polished with DIATECH\u00ae ShapeGuard exhibited higher microhardness under irrigation (p = 0.048 and p = 0.027, respectively). Overall, polishing resulted in measurable material removal, reflected by a reduction in specimen mass, and in an increase in microhardness. Wet polishing generally increased microhardness, although the effect varied depending on the polishing system and resin composite. Clinicians should therefore consider both the resin composite and the polishing system when deciding whether to use irrigation, as appropriate irrigation control may help optimize the surface smoothness and microhardness of resin composite restorations. Conference Presentation: Preliminary data from this study were previously presented as an oral communication at the 32nd Portuguese Dental Association Annual Meeting. This manuscript represents a substantially expanded and revised version, developed as a full research article.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/app16094264","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,28]],"date-time":"2026-04-28T13:26:41Z","timestamp":1777382801000},"page":"4264","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Influence of Irrigation on Polishing Protocols of Resin Composites: An In Vitro Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0001-2452-3928","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rui","family":"Eira","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2924-7926","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ana","family":"Coelho","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Area of Environment Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Laboratory for Evidence-Based Sciences and Precision Dentistry, University of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra, 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Centre for Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Processes (CEMMPRE), Advanced Production and Intelligent Systems (ARISE), Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9592-3120","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Lu\u00eds","family":"Vilhena","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Processes (CEMMPRE), Advanced Production and Intelligent Systems (ARISE), Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"given":"In\u00eas","family":"Amaro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Area of Environment Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Laboratory for Evidence-Based Sciences and Precision Dentistry, University of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra, 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Centre for Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Processes (CEMMPRE), Advanced Production and Intelligent Systems (ARISE), Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9269-5417","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Carlos Miguel","family":"Marto","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Area of Environment Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Laboratory for Evidence-Based Sciences and Precision Dentistry, University of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra, 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Centre for Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Processes (CEMMPRE), Advanced Production and Intelligent Systems (ARISE), Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Institute of Experimental Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Institute of Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6154-4173","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Anabela","family":"Paula","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Area of Environment Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Laboratory for Evidence-Based Sciences and Precision Dentistry, University of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra, 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Centre for Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Processes (CEMMPRE), Advanced Production and Intelligent Systems (ARISE), Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5968-6161","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Manuel Marques","family":"Ferreira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Area of Environment Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Laboratory for Evidence-Based Sciences and Precision Dentistry, University of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra, 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Centre for Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Processes (CEMMPRE), Advanced Production and Intelligent Systems (ARISE), Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Institute of Endodontics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-354 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7004-2212","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Am\u00edlcar","family":"Ramalho","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra, 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5759-5557","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Eunice","family":"Carrilho","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Area of Environment Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Laboratory for Evidence-Based Sciences and Precision Dentistry, University of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra, 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Centre for Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Processes (CEMMPRE), Advanced Production and Intelligent Systems (ARISE), Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,27]]},"container-title":["Applied 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