Evaluation of Color Stability and Translucency of Different Composite Resins Exposed to Alcohol

As there is evidence showing the effects of alcohol on the surface properties of composite resins, it is of great importance to understand the effects of commonly consumed beverages on the discoloration of composite restorations in people who consume alcohol.

The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in the color and translucency of composite resins immersed in different beverages after exposure to alcohol.

Disk-shaped samples from each composite resin (Filtek Z250 (Z250), Clearfil Majesty Esthetic (CME), and Esthelite Bulk Fill Flow (EBF), were prepared (n = 60) and randomly divided into two groups (exposed or unexposed to alcohol). The samples were immersed in distilled water, black tea, and coffee. The color parameter (∆E00) and translucency parameter (∆TP) were calculated after 24 h, 1 week, and 3 weeks. Four-way ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc analysis were used for the statistical analysis (α = 0.05).

Alcohol significantly increased the discoloration of Z250 and EBF in black tea. The discoloration of CME was not affected by alcohol exposure. Z250 and EBF showed clinically unacceptable discoloration (ΔE00 > 2.25) after immersion in black tea and coffee, whereas CME showed clinically unacceptable discoloration after immersion in black tea. Black tea caused the greatest color change in all composite materials regardless of alcohol exposure. EBF showed the lowest ΔTP values (∆TP = -1.82) at 3 weeks of immersion in black tea.

The effect of alcohol on discoloration depended on the composite type used. The translucency of bulk-fill flowable composite decreased with alcohol exposure.