Titanium (Ti) and Ag-Pd-Cu-Au alloy were examined for their polishing behav
iour by conducting manually controlled polishing tests using five dental ab
rasives [carborundum point (CR) and silicone points (R1 and R2)] driven by
a high torque micromotor with rotational speeds ranging from 2000 to 15 000
r.p.m. Polishing of Ti resulted in less volume of removal upon polishing,
a rougher surface and larger loss of abrasives, compared with polishing of
Ag-Pd-Cu-Au alloy. Polishing of Ti with a rotational speed of 15 000 r.p.m.
led to the largest volume of removal upon polishing, whilst that of 10 000
r.p.m. produced the optimal volume for Ag-Pd-Cu-Au alloy. It was concluded
that Ti was much more difficult to polish, requiring special care (e.g. fr
equent exchange of abrasives). Development of new abrasives for polishing T
i is required.