Color matching between orthodontic attachments and tooth structure using monoshade composites: An instrumental...

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Restorative Dentistry
• Orthodontics

Background:

• Monoshade resin composites simplify dental restorations by eliminating shade matching.
• Their use in fabricating orthodontic attachments requires evaluation for color compatibility with tooth structure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the color matching effectiveness of monoshade resin composites when used for orthodontic attachments.
• To compare color differences between fabricated attachments and adjacent tooth enamel across different regions.

Main Methods:

• Forty extracted human molars were divided into four groups, each receiving a different monoshade composite (Omnichroma, Vittra Unique, Charisma Diamond ONE, Vittra APS Trans-N).
• Standardized orthodontic attachments were fabricated, and color was measured using digital photography and CIEL∗a∗b∗ coordinates.
• Color differences (ΔE₀₀) were calculated between the resin attachments and adjacent enamel in cervical, middle, and occlusal regions.

Main Results:

• Significant color differences were observed among composite resins and across anatomical regions (P <0.001).
• The occlusal region showed acceptable to moderately unacceptable color differences (ΔE₀₀).
• The cervical region exhibited clearly or extremely unacceptable color differences, indicating poor compatibility.

Conclusions:

• The color match of monoshade composites for orthodontic attachments is dependent on the specific material and anatomical location.
• Occlusal regions achieve better color integration, whereas cervical regions demonstrate significantly poorer color compatibility.