Effect of thickness on the translucency of resin-based composites and glass-ceramics

This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of thickness (1, 2, 3, and 4 mm) on the translucency of resin-based composites (RBCs) and glass-ceramics, and compare the influence of the thickness of those materials on the translucency parameter (TP) value. The materials were divided into two groups, eight RBCs in Group 1 and five glass-ceramics in Group 2 and TP, ΔL*, Δa*, and Δb* were compared. Statistically significant differences were present in the 2, 3, and 4 mm in the TP, in the 2 and 4 mm in ΔL*, and in all thicknesses in Δa* and Δb* betweent the two groups. The TP of RBCs and glass-ceramics decreased as thickness increased, especially from 1 mm to 2 mm. The TP values of the RBCs were more significantly decreased as the thickness of the material increased from 2 mm to 4 mm than those of the glass-ceramics.