Alharbi M, Farah R. Effect of water-jet flossing on surface roughness and color stability of dental resin-based composites. J Clin Exp Dent 2020; 12: e169-e177.

In terms of surface roughness and colour, water-jet flossing is safe to be used on composite restorations within the settings of this study.

This in vitro study investigated the effects of water-jet flossing on the colour stability and surface roughness of resin-based composites. Nine disc-shaped specimens were fabricated from five commercially available composites. The specimens were randomly allocated into three groups and three different treatments were performed on each: storage in water (control), water-jet flossing (50 Psi water pressure) and water-jet flossing (100 Psi). The water-jet flossing was performed using a Waterpik Aquarius water flosser. Colour and roughness were measured at baseline and at the end of 30 minutes of treatment, which is equivalent to five years of simulated water-jet flossing for one minute once a day. No significant colour change was found after five simulated years of water-jet flossing. None of the specimens showed any significant surface roughness changes except for the two composites with spherical filler specimens in the 100 Psi group. These composites exhibited a significant increase in surface roughness compared with the nano-filled composite. However, the differences were clinically acceptable.