Effect of phytopigments on discoloration of nanohybrid composite: An in vitro study

The purpose of this study is to comparatively evaluate the effect of discoloration of nanohybrid composite by four different phytopigments.

Fifty disk-shaped samples of nanohybrid (3M Filtek Z350) resin composites were prepared using an acrylic template of dimension 5 mm × 3 mm. They were randomly divided into five groups and immersed in solutions of tomato powder, beetroot powder, java plum powder, and turmeric powder. Distilled water was used as the control group. The samples were placed in respective solutions for 3 h daily and stored in artificial saliva for the rest of the day for 28 days. Color values (L*, a*, b*) were measured by colorimeter using the CIE L*a*b* system at the end of the 7^th and 28^th days of immersion. Color differences ΔE*ab were statistically analyzed.

All the samples showed a change in color of nanohybrid composite resin to varying degrees. The mean ΔE*ab value obtained with beetroot solution was the highest among all the groups at the end of the 7^th and 28^th days, depicting that beetroot solution showed maximum mean color variation, followed by java plum solution, turmeric solution, and tomato solution.

All the phytopigments used in this study have the potential to discolor the nanohybrid composite resin, with beetroot causing the most severe discoloration.