JIDAM

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

eISSN 2582 - 0559
“An Official Journal of IDA - Madras Branch”©2019.
Available online

JIDAM/Volume: 7/Issue: 1/Pages 8 - 14/January - March 2020

A SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC EVALUATION OF

COLOUR STABILITY OF COMPOSITE RESINS

EXPOSED TO DIFFERENT LIQUIDS

COMMONLY CONSUMED BY CHILDREN – AN

INVITRO STUDY

Dr Poornima Vijayakumar, Dr Aruna Sharma, Dr Jayanthi M, Dr Sai Sarath Kumar Kothimbakkam

Department of Pediatrics and Preventive Dentistry,

Ragas Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India.

To access & cite this article

Website: jidam.idamadras.com

DOI:10.37841/jidam_2020_v7_i1_02

Address for correspondence:
Dr Sai Sarath Kumar Kothimbakkam, MDS.,
26/51, Sundaramoorthy Vinayar Koil Street,
Triplicane, Chennai- 600005
Email Id:saisarathpedo@gmail.com

Received – 04.02.2020

Accepted – 17.02.2020

Published – 27.03.2020

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE

: The purpose of this study was to assess the

colour stability of three different composites under various
staining solutions

METHOD

: 100 disks (3mm thick and 10mm in diameter)

were  prepared  from  three  types  of  composites:  (1)  Micro
hybrid  composites  (2)  Nano  composites  (3)  Hybrid
composites.  After polishing and obtaining the baseline data,
they were equally divided into 4 groups and immersed into 1
of 4 liquids at 37 degree Celsius, (1)Fanta (2) Bournvita (3)
Grape  Juice  (4)  Distilled  Water.  After  1week,  1  month,  2
months  they  were  measured  for  colour  change.  Colour
difference

each

specimen

were

measured

spectrophotometer.

RESULT

: The datas were compiled, and statistical analysis

were performed, using one –way ANOVA and Tukey – HSD
procedure at 5%significant level.

CONCLUSION

: The results of the study indicated that

Nanocomposite  is  more  stain  resistant  when  compared  to
other  2  composite  resins.  Maximum  staining  was  present  in
Grape  juice  followed  by  Bournvita,  Fanta,  and  Distilled
Water over an extended period of time.

KEYWORDS

Microhybrid

composite

resins,

Nanocomposites, Hybrid composites, Spectrophotometer,
Beverages

JIDAM/Volume: 7/Issue: 1/Pages 8 - 14/January - March 2020

Poornima et al: Colour stability of composite resins exposed to different liquids commonly consumed by children

INTRODUCTION

Dentists and patients have developed a more

discerning eye and a preference for proper shade match and
more aesthetic results. Resin composite materials have been
used for many years in dentistry with great success and high
patient acceptance

. An important factor in the success of an

aesthetic restoration is the colour stability of the material
over time

2,3,4,5

Several factors are known to impact colour stability

of the composites. Different factors can precipitate the
staining of samples during polymerization, finishing and
storage

6,7

. Although a high-gloss surface is generally

considered  to  be  less  susceptible  to  staining,  other  surface
conditions,  such  as  incomplete  polymerization  of  the  resin
matrix,  may  lead  to  the  surface  staining  of  composites

Microcracks, Microvoids or interfacial gaps located at the
interface between the filler and the matrix are the most likely
penetrating pathways of stains

The oral environment, however, is exposed to a

variety of challenges and the change in the dietary patterns
of children which influences the colour stability of
composites

and most of the staining occurs within the first

7-10 days

, during which most of the water sorption takes

place

12,13

. Actual staining in the mouth would require a

longer period of time to occur because of dilution by saliva
and daily oral hygiene practices

. The effect of staining

solution on colour changes of composite resins is material
dependent

considering these facts, the present study was

conducted  to  assess  the  colour  stability  of  Microhybrid
composites,  Nanocomposites  and  Hybrid  composites  under
various  staining  solutions  like  fanta,  bournvita,  grape  juice
and water was taken as control.

METHODOLOGY

300 specimens of 100 in each group were prepared

with  (1)  Microhydrid  composites  (3M  ESPE  Filteck  Z250)
(2) Nanocomposites  (3M  ESPE  Filteck  Z350)  (3)  Hybrid
composites  (3M  ESPE  Filteck  Z100).  The  test  specimens
were  made  by  injecting  the  resin  into  a  split
polytetrafluoroethylene  mold  3mm  thick  &  10mm  in
diameter.  The  resin  was  carefully  packed,  ensuring  that  the
mold  was  filled.  Extra  material  was  expelled  by  pressing
down  with  a  mylar/glass  slide.  The  specimen’s  lower  side
was  light  cured  with  a  halogen  curing  light  according  to
manufactures  instructions.  This  surface  is  used  as  the
working  surface.    The  specimens  were  turned  over  and  the
opposite  side  was  also  light  cured.  The  intensity  of  curing
light was monitored with a radiometer. The specimens were
stored overnight in a 37° C incubator.

Following the preparation of the composite resin

specimens,  they  were  polished  with  a  high-speed  carbide
no.7901  bur  and  sofulex(3M  ESPE)  composite  resin
polishing  discs  according  to  the  following  procedure.  The
carbide  finishing  bur  was  used  to  replicate  the  initial
finishing  in  clinical  situations.  They  were  polished,  in

order,with a:1) black coarse sof-Lex discs for 90 seconds at
a  speed  of  5000rpm;  2)  dark  blue  medium  disc  for  30
seconds at a speed of 5000rpm; 3)medium blue fine disc for
30  seconds  at  a  speed  of  10,000rpm;4)  light  blue  superfine
disc  for  30  seconds  at  a  speed  of  10,000rpm.  New  Sof-Lex
disks were used with each specimen.

Hundred specimens were made from each of the 3

composite  types  and  divided  into  4  groups  of  25  for
immersion  into  one  of  the  4  liquids:  (1)  carbonated
drinks(Fanta:  a  product  of  coco-cola  company),(2)  Malt
drinks  (  Bournvita:  a  product  of  Cadbury),  (3)  Fresh  fruit
juice  (grape  juice),  (4)  distilled  water  (as  control).  Prior  to
staining  the  color  of  the  composite  disks  were  measured
with spectrophotometer for baseline data.

After baseline measurement, 25 samples were placed

into a clean, dry Petridish and then completely immersed in
their previously assigned staining liquids twice daily once in
the  morning  and  once  in  the  evening  for  duration  of  5
minutes  each  and  the  specimens  are  taken  out  from  the
solution  and  placed  in  artificial  saliva.  Following  this
immersion,  the  petridishes  were  covered  and  placed  in  an
incubator at 37 ° C. After 1 week, the samples were removed
from  the  incubator,  drained,  slightly  rinsed  with  distilled
water, partially dried with compressed air, and then allowed
to  completely  air  dry.  The  specimens  were  handled  with
powder  free  latex  gloves  and  they  were  only  held  at  the
edges.  Once  dried,  they  were  measured  again  for  colour
stability with spectrophotometer. Following the readings, the
composites  discs  were  again  immersed  in  fresh  staining
liquids and replaced in artificial saliva and then placed in the
incubator  and  measured  after  1  month  and  2  months  for
colour  change  and  the  results  were  noted.  Data  was
compiled and was subjected to statistical analysis.

RESULTS

  The  mean  values  in  different  solutions  at  various  time
periods  are  shown  for  microhybrid,  nano  composites  and
hybrid composites in graph 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Table 1,
2. 3  and  4  shows  the  comparison  of  mean  values  among
different study groups for all the four different solutions

Graph 1: Mean Values in Different Solutions at Various

Time Periods in Group I (Micro Hybrid)

JIDAM/Volume: 7/Issue: 1/Pages 8 - 14/January - March 2020

Poornima et al: Colour stability of composite resins exposed to different liquids commonly consumed by children

Graph 2: Mean values in different solutions at various time

periods in Group II (Nano Composites)

Graph - 3 Mean Values in Different Solutions at Various

Time Points in Group III (Hybrid Composites)

TABLE - 1

Comparison of mean values among different study groups
for solution- I (Carbonated Drink - Fanta)

Time
Point

Group

Mean ±
S.D.

Overall

P-value*

Significant
Groups

Week – 1

0.339 ±
0.025

<0.0001
(Sig.)

I vs. II, III

II vs. III

0.215 ±
0.014

III

0.387 ±
0.008

Month – 1

0.389 ±
0.045

<0.0001
(Sig.)

I vs. II, III

0.339 ±

0.016

II vs. III

III

0.482 ±
0.016

Month – 2

0.400 ±
0.046

<0.0001
(Sig.)

I vs. II, III

II vs. III

0.361 ±
0.011

III

0.506 ±
0.019

*One Way ANOVA was used to calculate the P-value.
$Tukey – HSD procedure was employed to identify the
significant groups at 5% level.
Nano composite stained least with fanta when compared to
the other materials throughout the study period.

TABLE - 2

Comparison of Mean Values among Different Study Groups
for Solution- II (Malt Drink - Bournvita)

Time
Point

Group

Mean ±
S.D.

Overall

P-value*

Significant
Groups

Week – 1

0.514 ±
0.023

<0.0001
(Sig.)

I vs. II, III

II vs. III

0.462 ±
0.048

III

0.615 ±
0.009

Month – 1

0.686 ±
0.046

<0.0001
(Sig.)

I vs. II, III

II vs. III

0.600 ±
0.042

III

0.783 ±
0.018

Month - 2

0.798 ±

<0.0001

I vs. II, III

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Poornima et al: Colour stability of composite resins exposed to different liquids commonly consumed by children

0.014

(Sig.)

II vs. III

0.615 ±
0.043

III

0.874 ±
0.017

Grape  juice  caused  maximum  staining  of  the
Microhybrid  composite  throughout  the  study  period
followed by Bournvita and Fanta and least by distilled water.
The  amount  of  staining  increased  with  time  and  was  rapid
upto 1 month followed by gradual increase in the amount of
staining

*One Way ANOVA was used to calculate the P-value.

$Tukey – HSD procedure was employed to identify the
significant groups at 5% level.
Nano composite stained least with bournvita when compared
to the other materials throughout the study period.

TABLE - 3

Comparison of Mean Values among Different Study Groups
For Solution- III (Fruit Juice – Grape juice)

Time
Point

Group

Mean ±
S.D.

Overall

P-value*

Significant
Groups

Week – 1

0.984 ±
0.085

<0.0001
(Sig.)

I vs. II, III

II vs. III

0.922 ±
0.017

III

1.136 ±
0.039

Month – 1

1.582 ±
0.127

<0.0001
(Sig.)

I vs. II, III

II vs. III

1.525 ±
0.025

III

1.832 ±
0.065

Month - 2

1.737 ±
0.057

<0.0001
(Sig.)

I vs. II, III

II vs. III

1.603 ±
0.110

III

1.873 ±
0.034

*One Way ANOVA was used to calculate the P-value.

$Tukey  –  HSD  procedure  was  employed  to  identify  the
significant groups at 5% level.
Nano  composite  stained  least  with  grape  juice  when
compared to the other materials throughout the study period.

TABLE 4

Comparison of Mean values among different study groups
for solution- IV (Distilled Water)

Time
Point

Group

Mean ±
S.D.

Overall

P-value*

Significant
Groups

Week – 1

0.183 ±
0.006

<0.0001
(Sig.)

I vs. II, III

II vs. III

0.174 ±
0.008

III

0.193 ±
0.006

Month – 1

0.206 ±
0.008

<0.0001
(Sig.)

I vs. II, III

II vs. III

0.192 ±
0.007

III

0.217 ±
0.011

Month - 2

0.231 ±
0.011

<0.0001
(Sig.)

I vs. III

II vs. III

0.226 ±
0.012

III

0.261 ±
0.006

Rapid staining took place within 1st month followed

by  a  gradual  increase  in  the  amount  of  staining,  but  the
pattern  of  staining  with  different  solutions  remained  the
same  i.e,  maximum  staining  with  grape  juice  followed  by
bournvita,  fanta,  distilled  water.    With  respect  to  materials
Nano  composites  showed  minimal  color  change  compared

JIDAM/Volume: 7/Issue: 1/Pages 8 - 14/January - March 2020

Poornima et al: Colour stability of composite resins exposed to different liquids commonly consumed by children

with other 2 materials.

DISCUSSION

  In aesthetic dentistry, composites play a major role both
adults as well as for children. The long term success of these
materials will be influenced by variety of factors one among
them is the colour stability which will be directly influenced
by  dietary  habits  of  children.  With  effect  of  media  and
change  in  the  culture,  altered  food  pattern  with  more
attraction  toward  the  coloured  beverages  and  candies
ultimately caused some amount of staining on the restorative
materials.  Nandhini  G  Ashok

in her review article

discussed about the role of various dietary materials like tea
& coffee, beverages, grape juice, cherry juice, soya sauce on
the staining of composites. Hanisha Adusumilli

tested the

role  of  liquids  and  beverages  consumed  by  the  children  on
the  colour  stability  of  aesthetic  (tooth  coloured)  restorative
materials.  Hence  the  present  study  included  the  beverages
with  wide  spectrum  of  colours  and  their  influence  on  3
commonly used restorative materials that is the microhybrid
composite, nano composite and hybrid composites.

Colour determination in dentistry can be divided into

two categories: Visual and instrumental

. Colour perception

by  visual  assessment  of  object  is  a  subjective,  physiologic,
psychologic process that varies between and within persons.
This  variability  is  a  result  of  several  factors,  including
observed  object  and  illuminant  position  relative  to  the
observer  and  to  each  other,  colour  characteristics  of  the
illuminant,  metamerism,  fatigue,  aging  and  emotional  state
of the observer

Instrumental Calorimetry can potentially eliminate

subjective errors in colour assessment. Calorimetry is more
accurate and exact than naked eye in measuring slight
differences in coloured objects in flat surfaces

Since instrumental measurements eliminate the

subjective  interpretation  of  visual  colour  comparison,
colorimeters  and  spectrophotometers  have  been  commonly
used  to  measure  colour  change  in  dental  materials

19,20,21

Spectrophotometers have been shown to be more accurate in
measuring the colour change than colorimeters

A Spectrophotometer is a photometer (a device for

measuring light intensity) that can measure intensity as a
function of the colour, or more specifically, the wavelength
of light

.The Spectrophotometer measures quantitatively the

fraction of light that passes through a given sample.

In the present study, the CIELAB system was used

for colour measurement. According to Okubo.S and
Kanawati

, the use of CIE L*a*b* system is recommended

for dental purpose

. The CIE L*a*b* colour system

characterizes colour based on human perception. It is a
method

developed

1976

the

Commission

Internationale de I’E clairage for characterizing the colour. It
designates colour according to 3 spatial coordinates, L*a*b*
where L represents the brightness (value) of a shade, a*

represents the amount of red – green colour and b*
represents the amount of blue- yellow color

The thickness of the disc prepared in the study was

3mm  thick  &  10mm  in  diameter  because,  the  effect  of
increasing thickness on colour depends on the colour of the
background.  For  a  white  background  as  might  be
represented  by  human  enamel,  an  increase  in  thickness  of
resin  resulted  in  decreasing  values  of  luminous  reflectance
and  excitation  purity.  Clinically,  the  resin  might  appear
darker and less chromatic as thickness increases.

The clinical effect of increasing the thickness of the

direct restorative resin studied from 1.3-3.9mm is to increase
dramatically the opacity of the resin as measured by the
contrast ratio

Similar study done by Joseph A.Curtain,Huan Lu

compared 3 types of composites, submicron, nanocomposite
and  microhybrid  composite  restoration  and  showed  the
maximum  stain  resistant  with  Nanocomposite  (  Tetric  evo
ceram) and staining was more with grape juice than drinking
water.Bagheri.  R,  M.F.  Burrow

17,26,27,28

conducted a study to

determine the surface staining of resin based composites and
GICs  after  immersion  in  red  wine,coffee,tea,soy  sauce  &
cola,  and  concluded  that  staining  was  minimal  with    resin
based  composites  and  coffee,  tea,  red  wine  stained  more
when compared to soy sauce & cola.

Gupta. R, Prakash. H

conducted a study to compare

the colour stability of tooth coloured veneers after exposure
to  commonly  used  beverages.  He  compared  the  colour
stability  of  porcelain  and  2  universal  composites  (Z250  &
Tetric  Ceram)  after  exposure  to  tea,  coffee,  coco-cola  and
distilled water and concluded that all the 3 materials showed
a  statistically  significant  change  in  all  the  solutions  after  a
period of 1 month as well as after 4 months when compared
with the value at 1

day. Similar findings were observed by

Maria Luisa de Alencar etal

with more staining of the

restorative materials made of grapes compared to carbonated
drinks. Ahmed Nour El-din Ahmed Habib

in their study

concluded that the clinically unacceptable colour changes of
the tested resin dental composites immersed in chocolate
milk, orange fizzy and mango juice.

In present study, the colour measurement was done at

1  week,  1  month,  and  2months  intervals.  The  results  were
statistically  analysed  using  One  Way  ANOVA  and  Tukey-
HSD  test,  it  revealed  that  colour  change  was  more  with
Grape  Juice  followed  by  Bournvita,  Fanta  and  Distilled
water.  Hybrid  Composite  showed  highest  colour  change
when  compared  with  the  other  composites  while  Nano
Composite  showed  minimal  colour  change  when  compared
with the other two groups.

CONCLUSION

Nano composite (Z250) was found to be the most

JIDAM/Volume: 7/Issue: 1/Pages 8 - 14/January - March 2020

Poornima et al: Colour stability of composite resins exposed to different liquids commonly consumed by children

stain  resistant  material  among  the  3  dental  composites
tested;  Fruit  juice  (grape  juice)  stained  materials  more  than
malt  drinks  &  carbonated  drinks.  This  is  an  invitro
observation,  the  same  should  be  confirmed  invivo,  with
different  clinical  scenario  were  the  contact  of  the  liquid  on
the tooth surface is minimal, when liquids are consumed by
cups  or  when  liquids  and  tooth  surface  are  in  contact  for  a
longer  time  if  they  are  consumed  by  bottle  using  solutions
with known specific pH range.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND
SPONSORSHIP:

Nil

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST:

There are no conflicts of interest.

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