Search

Context: An aesthetic restorative material that would be suitable to be used in patients who are prescribed saliva substitute (SS) for symptomatic relief from xerostomia. Aims: This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effect of SS on the color stability of three different direct tooth-colored restorative materials. Settings and Design: This is an in vitro spectrophotometric study where standard uniform disc-shaped specimens were immersed in a SS for 30 days. Materials and Methods: The materials investigated were resin-modified-glass ionomer cement (RM-GIC), light-cured (LC) resin composite restorative material (Filtek™ Z350 XT), and LC fluoride-releasing restorative material (Ketac™ N100). Sixteen disc-shaped samples of each test material were prepared using a polytetrafluoroethylene mold, making up a total of 48 samples and were assigned to three groups: Group I (RM-GIC), Group II (Filtek™ Z350 XT), and Group III (Ketac™ N100). They were further divided into two subgroups A and B with eight samples each based on the immersion solutions namely distilled water (DW) and SS, respectively. The samples were immersed for 30 days. Baseline and postimmersion color analysis was done with a spectrophotometer. The CIE L*a*b* values were measured and CIE ΔE values obtained were tabulated. Statistical Analysis Used: The data obtained were statistically analyzed using ANOVA and independent t-test, and the pair-wise significance between groups was obtained using least significant difference test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: All the samples immersed in SS showed greater discoloration (ΔE >3.3) than the samples immersed in DW and was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05). Ketac™ N100 displayed relatively lesser discoloration when compared to RM-GIC and Filtek™ Z350 XT when immersed in a SS. Conclusions: Among the materials tested, Ketac™ N100 was found to be more color stable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]