Color Stability of Composite and Glass Hybrid Restorations in Storage Media Recommended for Avulsed Teeth: An In...

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Restorative Dentistry
• Dental Trauma Management

Background:

• Tooth avulsion necessitates immediate tooth storage in appropriate media to maintain cell viability for successful replantation.
• The impact of these storage media on the aesthetic longevity of pre-existing dental restorations remains largely uninvestigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate and compare the short-term color stability of a composite resin and a glass hybrid restorative material when immersed in commonly recommended storage media for avulsed teeth.

Main Methods:

• 120 disc-shaped specimens of a composite resin (G-ænial Posterior) and a glass hybrid (EQUIA Forte HT) were prepared.
• Specimens were immersed in six storage media: dry environment, artificial saliva, tap water, cow's milk, goat milk, and kefir.
• Color change (ΔE) was measured using the CIE L*a*b* system at multiple time points up to 24 hours.

Main Results:

• All specimens exhibited significant color change over time (p < 0.001).
• Glass hybrid restorations showed significantly greater color change (ΔE) compared to composite restorations across most conditions (p < 0.001).
• Dry storage resulted in the highest color alterations, and significant interactions between material, medium, and time were observed (p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• The tested composite restorative material demonstrated superior short-term color stability compared to the tested glass hybrid material in the evaluated storage media.
• The choice of storage medium and duration significantly influences the color stability of dental restorative materials.
• Clinicians should consider the potential aesthetic impact on restorations when advising patients on avulsed tooth management.