Instrumental Colorimetric Evaluation of Direct Enamel Restoration Materials

Evidence establishes that there are problems regarding colorimetric coding and standardization of composite resin codes around the world that make the work of clinicians difficult. Determine significant quantitative colorimetric differences (ΔE) in enamel composite resins VITA A2 and A3 respect to VITA-Classical shade, allows clinicians to be alerted to real color differences between products of the same coding. Descriptive in vitro study, 6 resins (N 140) A2 and A3 were used. 7 mm diameter discs, 1 mm (+/-0.1mm) thick were made, measured with spectrophotometry on opaque black background in dark chamber. Values obtained in CIELAB were analyzed obtaining ΔE. ANOVA test of factor 1 (α0.05) was performed. ΔE for products simulating A2 and A3 with respect to Vita-Classical scale was greater than 5 (5= evident instrumental color difference between reference color and obtained color, unacceptable), with exception of A3 FiltekZ350XT (3MESPE, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA) (3.39±.65) (3 to 4= evident instrumental color difference between reference color and obtained color, but not visually perceptible). There are significant colorimetric differences in enamel composite resins with VITA A2 and A3 coding in studied products, with respect to original VITA-Classical color, when measured spectrophotometer in CIELab with an interval confidence of 95%. All resins are over ΔE 5, meaning that differences between shades are considered clinically unacceptable, with exception of FiltekZ350XT 3MESPE, (3.39±.65) for Vita A3. None of the composite resins meet colorimetric characteristics when compared to Vita-Classical scale, (Bad Säckingen, Germany).