Do electronic cigarette devices/vapes impact the colour of dental ceramics?

In vitro primary research study.

Five frequently used restorative dental ceramic materials (pressable ceramics (PEmax), pressed and layered ceramics (LEmax), layered zirconia (LZr), monolithic zirconia (MZr) and porcelain fused to metal (PFM)) were selected and manufactured in shade A1. Samples of each material were prepared in discs and kept in water at 37°C for 24 hours then aged via thermocycling. Samples were positioned in a plastic chamber to mimic the intraoral setting and exposed to vape smoke through an artificial lung vacuum system. The procedure was repeated until target exposure puffs were achieved, ranging from 250-1500 puffs. The ECDs/vape device, refill juice and concentration used for puff generation were chosen based on a survey reporting high consumption. A spectrophotometer was used to measure sample colour through L*a*b values (lightness, axes of green, red, blue and yellow). CIELAB formula was used to calculate total colour difference (∆E) at six time intervals.

One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's posthoc testing was used to compare mean ∆E values with 95% confidence intervals for all specimens. Cut off for significance was α < 0.05.

All ceramics showed colour variation following exposure to ECD aerosol. With the exception of PEmax, all tested materials lightness values changed following exposure to 250 puffs. At 1500 puff exposures, LEmax, LZr and MZr showed significant colour changes, whereas PEmax and PFM showed clinically acceptable and insignificant change.

Colour change of dental ceramics varies depending on the ceramic material used and puff exposure number. Exposure to ECD aerosols can result in aesthetically noticeable colour changes in LEmax, LZr and MZr. Colour changes demonstrated are less than those caused by traditional tobacco smoking.