Australian Dental Council (ADC) Practice Test

Class V composite resin restorations can be polished immediately after application. This is because, during the polymerization process, many composite materials reach a sufficient hardness within just a few minutes of curing, allowing for effective finishing and polishing. Immediate polishing provides the opportunity to achieve optimal aesthetics and surface smoothness, which is crucial for the restorative outcome and patient satisfaction.

Polishing right after application also allows any excess material or imperfections at the surface to be addressed while the restoration is still fresh. Additionally, polishing immediately can help in enhancing the gloss and shine of the restoration, making it more seamless with the surrounding tooth structure.

In contrast, choices that suggest waiting 24 hours, 3 to 4 days, or even 3 to 4 weeks can result in missed opportunities for optimizing the restoration as it may already be fully set, making future polishing more challenging and potentially less effective. This could also lead to discoloration or changes in the surface texture over time, which can compromise the integrity and aesthetics of the restoration.