Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 9, 2025

Shrinkage of Dental Composite in Simulated Cavity Measured with Digital Image Correlation
Published on: July 21, 2014
Changes in color and contrast ratio of resin composites after curing and storage in water
Marlus da Silva Pedrosa1, Fernando Neves Nogueira1, Vitor de Oliveira Baldo1
1Department of Biomaterials and Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Purpose:
To verify the color change and contrast ratio of resin composites after curing and after 30 days of storage in water.
Methods:
Dentin A2 shades of different light-cured dental resin composites (Vittra APS, FGM, Brazil; Z350 XT, 3M ESPE, EUA; Tetric N-Ceram, Ivoclar Vivadent, Liechtenstein, and Charisma Diamond, Heraeus Kulzer, Germany) were tested. Ten rounded specimens (8 mm × 2 mm) were prepared for each material. Reflectance for all samples was obtained using a spectrophotometer (Minolta CM 3700d, Konica Minolta, Japan) before curing, immediately after curing, and after 30 days of storage in water. The color change (ΔE*lab) and contrast ratio (CR) data were analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance with Tukey's and paired t-tests (α = 1%).
Results:
For all materials tested, significant color changes were noticeable after curing and after 30 days in water (p < 0.01). Significant changes in the CR values before curing, after curing, and 30 days of storage in water were observed in the resin composites investigated (p < 0.01) except for Z350 (p > 0.01).
Conclusion:
The CR values and color changes after curing and 30 days of storage in water varied depending on the material tested. This study corroborates the clinical practice of curing a small amount of unpolymerized resin composite on the tooth surface to select the desired shade before undertaking esthetic restorative procedures.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Curing of Concrete
Testing Water Quality
Effect of Sea Water on Concrete
Concrete in areas between tide marks,...
Accelerated Curing of Concrete
Water Cement Ratio
Drying Shrinkage
A portion of this drying shrinkage can be reversed; if the concrete is...

