Storing Tooth Segments for Optimal Esthetics

A fractured whole crown segment can be reattached to its remnant; crowns from extracted teeth may be used as pontics in splinting techniques. We aimed to evaluate the effect of different storage solutions on tooth segment optical properties after different durations.

Sixty central incisor crowns were divided into 6 groups (n = 10); Group 1 was kept dry; Groups 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 were placed in an isotonic solution, water, milk, saliva, and casein-phosphopeptide-amorphous-calcium-phosphate (CPP-ACP), respectively, for 30 min, 12 h, 1 day, 1 week, and 3 weeks. Color values were measured using a colorimeter. Data were analyzed with Kruskal-Wallis tests, Mann-Whitney U-tests, and Friedman Wilcoxon tests with Bonferroni stepwise corrections (p < 0.05).

ΔE* values varied from 0.3 to 15.3 over the 3 week period. Group 1 demonstrated the greatest color changes over all durations; Group 6 exhibited the least. L*, a*, b*, and ΔE* values varied between time periods in all groups; the differences were significant (p < 0.01), except for L* and ΔE* values in Group 2 and a* values in Group 6 (p > 0.01). Comparing ΔE* values, Group 6 was significantly different from the other groups for all durations (p < 0.01), except Group 4.

A CPP-ACP complex solution seems a good choice for tooth fragment storage. Milk and saliva solutions may cause perceptible color changes if tooth fragments are stored for 3 weeks before use.