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Polymerization color changes of esthetic restoratives
A U Yap1, C P Sim, V Loganathan
1National University of Singapore, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Restorative Dentistry, Singapore.
Operative Dentistry
|May 24, 2000
Summary
Tooth-colored dental restoratives change color during polymerization. This color change, mainly affecting lightness (L*), depends on the shade, not the material type, and is visible to the human eye.
Area of Science:
- Dental Materials Science
- Restorative Dentistry
- Colorimetry
Background:
- Accurate shade matching of tooth-colored restoratives is crucial for successful esthetic dental treatments.
- Understanding color changes in dental materials during polymerization is essential for predictable clinical outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and quantify the color changes of three different types of tooth-colored restorative materials during the polymerization process.
- To determine if color changes are material-dependent or shade-dependent.
Main Methods:
- Colorimetry was used to measure L*, a*, b* color parameters of five shades of Z100 (composite resin), Fuji II LC (resin-modified glass-ionomer), and Dyract (polyacid-modified composite).
- Measurements were taken before (precure) and after (postcure) polymerization for each material and shade.
Main Results:
- All evaluated restorative materials exhibited color changes post-polymerization.
- The observed color changes were dependent on the shade of the material, not the material type itself.
- Changes in the L* parameter (lightness) were significant across all material and shade combinations, significantly influencing the overall color shift.
Conclusions:
- Polymerization significantly alters the color of common dental restorative materials.
- The clinical practice of pre-polymerizing a small amount of restorative material adjacent to the tooth is a prudent method for shade verification before final placement.