The surface smoothness of composite restorations affects not only their esthetic appearance but also other properties. Thus, rough surfaces can lead to staining, plaque accumulation, gingival irritation, recurrent caries, abrasiveness, wear kinetics, and tactile perception by the patient. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of irrigation during the finishing and polishing of composite resin restorations. A systematic search of the PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Clinical Trials databases was conducted. Papers published up to 11 February 2021 were considered. The quality of each study was assessed using the modified Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials checklist for reporting in vitro studies on dental materials. No clinical studies were identified. Six in vitro studies were included, reporting changes in physical and esthetic properties. After performing a methodological quality assessment of the studies, some limitations were identified, the main limitation being the heterogeneous methodology across studies. The evidence resulting from this systematic review did not favor either wet or dry finishing/polishing procedures. There is a clear need for well-designed studies focusing on the comparison of dry/wet finishing/polishing with standard protocols to evaluate the differences among different materials and methods.
Keywords: composite resins; finishing and polishing; irrigation; microhardness; roughness.