Does glycerin influence the color stability of composite resin?

Introduction: The effect of oxygen on the surface of resins at the moment of photopolymerization creates a layer which is susceptible to pigments. The use of glycerin may block this effect. Objective: Determine whether there is a difference in the color stability of nanohybrid composite resin subjected to a coloring agent when glycerin is either applied or not applied. Methods: Sixty resin disks were distributed into Group 1 (without glycerin) and Group 2 (with glycerin). Photopolymerization was performed for 20 s with a Bluephase®N LED lamp. The first color measurement was taken with an Easyshase®V spectrophotometer, recording the values obtained for L* (luminosity), a* (red-green axis) and b* (blue-yellow axis). The second color measurement was taken after immersion of the samples for one month in Coca-Cola®, maintaining them in an incubator at 37ºC. Statistical data analysis was performed with Student's t test to determine the color stability changes occurring in the two groups and compare them. Results: Color stability changes were observed in all the resin samples. Mean distance between initial and final color was ΔE = 6.91 in Group 1 and ΔE = 3.74 in Group 2. A statistically significant difference was found between the two groups analyzed (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Glycerin is an effective substance to block the effect of oxygen on the resin surface, preventing the formation of an oxygen-inhibited layer and raising the color stability of the nanohybrid composite resin.