Color Shift, Color Stability, and Post-Polishing Surface Roughness of Esthetic Resin Composites

The aim of this study was to compare color shift, color stability, and post-polishing surface roughness of esthetic restorative materials. Twenty-five disc-shaped specimens (10 mm in diameter and 2 mm in thickness) from five esthetic resin materials (Z250XT, IPS Empress-Direct, G-ænial, Vit-l-escence, and Ceram.X) were fabricated. Color shift before and immediately after light-curing (∆E₀) then color stability after immersion in tea, coffee, berry juice, and distilled water were measured using a spectrophotometer. Color changes were measured after 2 (ΔE₂), 4 (ΔE₄), 6 (ΔE₆), and 8 weeks (ΔE₈). Surface roughness values (Rq) were determined using an optical profilometer after polishing using a rotary polishing system. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and multiple comparison methods at 0.05 significance level. There were no significant differences between the tested materials regarding color shift except between Vit-l-escence and Ceram.X (p = 0.033). There was no significant difference between coffee and tea solutions (p = 1.0) and between berry juice and distilled water (p = 0.15). There was no difference between the tested materials regarding Rq (p = 0.057). Ceram.X was associated with the lowest ΔE₈ values overall. Tested materials were comparable regarding color shift and post-polishing surface roughness. Susceptibility to staining was dependent on the material.