Color Stability of Pediatric Restorative Material Over Pediatric Drug Formulation

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Pediatric Dentistry
• Pharmaceutical Science

Background:

• Dental restorative materials are crucial in pediatric dentistry.
• Color stability of these materials is essential for aesthetic outcomes.
• Exposure to various pediatric medications can potentially affect the longevity and appearance of dental restorations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the color stability of light-cured (LC) resin and LC glass ionomer cement (GIC) when exposed to common pediatric drug formulations.
• To identify which drug formulations cause the most significant discoloration in these dental materials.

Main Methods:

• 88 disc-shaped specimens of LC resin and LC GIC were prepared.
• Specimens were immersed in four different pediatric drug formulations (montelukast/levocetirizine, cefixime, sodium valproate, metronidazole) for one week with cyclic agitation.
• Color change (ΔE) was measured using a spectrophotometer and analyzed statistically (ANOVA).

Main Results:

• All tested drug formulations caused some degree of discoloration in both restorative materials.
• Sodium valproate resulted in the highest mean ΔE values (4.70 ± 1.89), indicating significant staining.
• Cefixime (3.23 ± 2.02) and montelukast/levocetirizine (3.24 ± 2.31) showed the lowest discoloration, with no statistically significant difference between them (p=0.298).

Conclusions:

• Both LC composite and LC GIC restorative materials are susceptible to discoloration from pediatric drug formulations.
• Sodium valproate poses the highest risk for staining dental restorations in pediatric patients.
• Cefixime and montelukast/levocetirizine demonstrate minimal color impact on these materials.