Color and Translucency Stability of Additively Manufactured Interim Dental Restorative Materials: An In Vitro Aging...

Additively manufactured interim restorative materials are being employed to meet contemporary esthetic demands, yet the longevity of their optical characteristics remains uncertain.

To assess the impact of material composition and manufacturing method on the optical stability of different additively manufactured interim restorative resins under in vitro aging methods and compare these properties to those of milled hybrid ceramic blocks.

A total of 240 disc-shaped specimens (diameter 10.00 ± 0.05 mm, thickness 1.10 ± 0.05 mm) were fabricated utilizing four additively manufactured resin-based and two milled hybrid ceramic blocks. Following standardized finishing and polishing processes, the specimens were aged in coffee at 55°C, grape juice at 5°C, deionized water at 25°C, or thermocycled between 5°C and 55°C. Color stability (ΔE₀₀ ) and relative translucency parameter (RTP₀₀ ) were evaluated. Data was analyzed with two-way ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc tests (α = 0.05).

Material type significantly affected the color and translucency following aging (p < 0.001). Among additively manufactured materials, Primeprint Temp demonstrated the least color change (ΔE ₀₀  = 4.30 ± 1.10), while Ceramic Crown Resin showed the most significant discoloration (ΔE ₀₀  = 13.52 ± 1.40). Furthermore, the milled hybrid ceramic material (Enamic) exhibited the lowest overall color change across all tested materials. Ceramic Crown Resin exhibited the most significant reduction in the relative translucency parameter (ΔRTP ₀₀  = -2.70 ± 0.55), exceeding the acceptability threshold of 2.6 following immersion in coffee.

Primeprint Temp demonstrated superior color and translucency stability relative to the other materials examined, whereas Ceramic Crown Resin showed the least stability, particularly under the conditions of coffee immersion.

Understanding the optical stability of contemporary interim additively manufactured resins facilitates enhanced esthetic stability between sessions and minimizes the necessity for repolishing or remaking interim restorations. Patients who frequently consume hot, staining beverages should be warned about potential discoloration, especially when utilizing resin-based materials for long-term use.