Objective: The aim was to investigate certain surface
properties and microstructure of an
experimental short fiber-reinforced CAD/CAM composite block (SFRC) in
comparison with different CAD/CAM, 3D-printing and manually-made commercial
composites (Cerasmart 270,
GC Temp PRINT, Pro3dure GR-17, Essentia U, Gradia Plus and everX Flow).

Methods: A wear-test was performed using a chewing-simulator with 15000
cycles. Wear depth (n=6) was assessed by 3D optical-profilometer. Surface
roughness (SR) before and after wearing-test was evaluated. Vickers-indenter
was utilized for evaluating surface microhardness (VH) and Glossmeter was utilized
to measure the surface gloss at 60°. The surface microstructure
of each composite was investigated with SEM. Data were statistically analyzed with analysis of variance ANOVA
(p=0.05).

Results: Significant
differences in the surface properties were found
according to the type of composite (p<0.05). Cerasmart 270 exhibited the highest VH (94.8 V) and lowest SR (0.18 Ra) values (p<0.05)
among the composites tested. The
lowest wear depth measurement was located for GC
Temp PRINT (19.3 µm) which was not significantly different (p>0.05) from
Cerasmart 270 (20.7 µm).

Conclusion: Incorporation of fibers to the composite of
the CAD/CAM block did not negatively influence the surface characteristics of
composite.