Effect of Antibiotic, Multivitamin and Iron Preparations on Color Stability of Pediatric Restorative Materials: An In Vitro Study

Background/Objectives: This in vitro study compared the color stability of four pediatric restorative materials after exposure to three pediatric liquid medications in a 4 × 3 factorial design. Methods: Sixty disc specimens (10.0 × 2.0 mm) were prepared from a composite resin (Charisma Smart), a compomer (Nova Compomer), a giomer (Beautifil Kids SA), and a high-viscosity glass ionomer cement (HVGIC; Equia Forte HT with Equia Forte Coat) (n = 15 per material) and allocated to antibiotic, multivitamin syrup, and iron preparation subgroups (n = 5); the specimens were immersed for 2 min twice daily for 7 days. ΔE00 values were calculated from VITA Easyshade V measurements at baseline and after exposure and were analyzed using two-way ANOVA with Bonferroni-adjusted comparisons. Results: Restorative material (F(3,48) = 11.221, p < 0.001) and medication type (F(2,48) = 6.937, p = 0.002) had significant main effects, whereas their interaction was not significant (F(6,48) = 1.676, p = 0.147). HVGIC showed significantly greater color change than the other materials (p < 0.05). Exposure to the antibiotic suspension was associated with greater discoloration than exposure to the iron preparation (p = 0.002). The giomer had the lowest mean ΔE00, but it did not differ significantly from the compomer and composite resin. Conclusions: ΔE00 differed significantly among the restorative products and among the three medication exposure conditions, with no significant interaction. Because no unexposed control group was included, these differences reflect comparisons between exposure conditions rather than the effect of the medications alone. These in vitro findings are product-specific and require clinical confirmation.