Color Stability of Maxillofacial Silicone Enhanced with Nanoparticle Following Artificial and Natural Weathering

Congenital facial deformities, traumatized facial tissue, and facial traumas require maxillofacial rehabilitation. Plastic vascular surgery is the patient's preferred alternative, although alloplastic reconstruction, which is non-invasive and risk-free, may also address face abnormalities. Many materials have been used to produce maxillofacial prostheses, but they are still lacking in achieving properties mimicking human tissue. This study examined the effect of nano-silica and nano-alumina incorporation in Tech-Sil 25 maxillofacial silicone elastomer on color stability after natural and artificial weathering. A total of 140 room temperature vulcanizing (RTV) silicone materials were weathered for 6 periods: 70 for 3 natural (3, 6, and 9 months) and 70 for 3 artificial (100, 200, and 300 hours). Group As is the control group without nanoparticles, group Bs is 1%NS (nano-silica), group Cs is 2%NS, group Ds is 1%NA (nano-alumina), group Es is 2%NA, group Fs is 1%NS+l %NA, and group Gs is 0.5%NS+0.5% NA. Five burnt sienna and five cobalt blue samples are in each set of 10. The color values were recorded using CIELAB. An independent sample t-test was performed to compare the mean values between natural and artificial aging for all groups. burned sienna pigment samples with 1 %NS+ 1 %NA had the best color stability, followed by 2%NS and 2%NA. The visual system saw the least color change (AE* = 1.1) with burnt sienna groups while the most substantial change was detected in cobalt blue pigment. All groups met clinical standards for color change. Nano-silica (NS), nano-alumina (NA), and a blend of both improved color stability in Tech-Sil 25 maxillofacial silicone. Combining 1%NS+ 1 %NA improves color stability for burnt sienna and cobalt blue pigments. Burnt sienna has less color fluctuation than cobalt blue. However, each group's color shift was clinically acceptable.