Reliability of the color measurement of resin composites using images obtained using a stereoscopic loupe.

This study assessed the reliability of a color measurement method using images obtained from a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera and a stereoscopic loupe. Disc-shaped specimens were created using the composite Filtek Z350 XT (shades DA1, DA2, DA3, and DA4) (n = 3). CIELAB color coordinates of the specimens were measured using the spectrophotometer SP60 over white and black backgrounds. Images of the same specimens were taken using a CCD camera attached to a stereoscopic loupe. The color of the image was measured (red-green-blue [RGB]) using an image processing software and converted to CIELAB coordinates. For each color coordinate, data from images were adjusted using linear regressions predicting those values from SP60. The whiteness index for dentistry (WID) and translucency parameter (TP00) of the specimens as well as the color differences (ΔE00) among pairwise shades were calculated. Data were analyzed via repeated-measures analysis of variance and Tukey's post hoc test (α = 0.05). Images obtained using the loupe tended to be darker and redder than the actual color. Data adjustment resulted in similar WID, ΔE00, and TP00 values to those observed for the spectrophotometer. Differences were observed only for the WID of shade DA3 and ΔE00 for comparing DA1 and DA3 over the black background. However, these differences were not clinically relevant. The use of adjusted data from images taken using a stereoscopic loupe is considered a feasible method for color measurement.

The influence of smoking on the effectiveness of at-home bleaching: A prospective clinical study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of smoking on tooth whitening and color change after at-home bleaching. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective clinical study evaluated two groups of participants: NS-non-smokers (n = 24) and S-smokers (n = 16). All subjects were treated with at-home bleaching using 22% carbamide peroxide (CP) for 1 h/day for 14 days. Color coordinates (L*-luminosity, a*-red-green axis and b*-yellow-blue axis) were obtained before bleaching (D0-baseline), 1 day (D1), 15 days (D15), and 1 month (D30) after bleaching. The whiteness index (WID ) and CIEDE2000 color differences (ΔE00 ) were calculated for S and NS. Color changes between S and NS subjects for specific teeth (CI-Central Incisors, LI-Lateral Incisors, and C-Canines) were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test (α = 0.05). RESULTS: There was no significant difference in WID between S and NS subjects at baseline. NS participants showed higher WID than S at D1, D15, and D30 (p < 0.05). NS showed higher ΔWID for CI and C between D0 and the other evaluation times (D1, D15, and D30) compared to S. Smokers showed higher darkening of CI than NS in ΔWID D30-D1 (p < 0.05). Color changes showed similar overall behavior for ΔWID . For all evaluation times, ΔWID and ΔE00 values were below the corresponding acceptability thresholds. CONCLUSION: At-home bleaching was effective on smokers and nonsmokers. Smoking negatively affected color stability after bleaching. ΔE00 and ΔWID were acceptable for both groups. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Although smoking negatively affected color stability after bleaching, the observed changes were clinically acceptable.

Influence of a glycolic acid-based final irrigant for photosensitizer removal of photodynamic therapy on the microhardness and colour change of the dentin structure.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate the influence of glycolic acid-based final irrigant for photosensitizer removal of photodynamic therapy on the microhardness and colour change of the dentin structure. METHODS: Eighty extracted single-rooted human incisors were used. Sample preparation and root split resulted in 160 samples, 80 samples being used for microhardness and 80 samples for colour change evaluation. In the first, PDT protocol was performed and 80 samples were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 20), according to the final irrigation protocol: distilled water (DW); 17 % ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA); QMix; 17 % glycolic acid (GA). Microhardness was evaluated using the Vicker tester, before and after, PDT and final irrigation protocols, calculating the percentage of microhardness reduction. In the second evaluation, PDT and final irrigation protocols were performed in the same way. Colour change was evaluated using digital spectrophotometer before and after these protocols, calculating the ΔE colour change using the CIELAB system (L*a*b* values). Specific statistical analysis was performed for both evaluations (α = 5%). RESULTS: The highest percentage of microhardness reduction was observed in 17 % EDTA, QMix and 17 % GA groups, with no significant difference among them (p > 0.05). Furthermore, none of these protocols was effective in photosensitizer removal, and all final irrigation protocols were statically similar to control group (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: GA promotes microhardness reduction and also contributes to the colourization of dentin structure during the photosensitizer removal process, followingPDT .

Influence of the photoactivation distance on the color and whiteness stability of resin-based composite after bleaching and aging.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the influence of photoactivation distance on color stability and whiteness changes after bleaching and water storage of a resin-based composite (RBC). METHODS: Twenty disc-shaped specimens (12 mm x 1 mm; n = 5) from a nanofilled RBC (Filtek Z350 XT) were photoactivated from two distances (0 and 8 mm) and bleached using either an at-home (HB) or an in-office (OB) bleaching protocol. Specimens were stored in distilled water up to 6 months (aged specimens). A spectrophotometer (Vita Easyshade) was used to measure CIE L*a*b* coordinates. Color stability was calculated using CIEDE2000 (ΔE00) metric, and whiteness variations using the whiteness index for dentistry (ΔWID). The 50:50 % visual thresholds were used to analyzed ΔE00 values (PT- perceptibility, and AT- acceptability) and ΔWID values (WPT- whiteness perceptibility, and WAT- whiteness acceptability). Color parameters L*, a*, b* and ΔWID were analyzed using repeated measures two-way ANOVA. RESULTS: After bleaching, RBC specimens photoactivated from 0 mm showed ΔE00 values below AT and the ones from 8 mm had values above AT. After OB, ΔWID values were below WPT, but all other comparisons were above WAT. CONCLUSIONS: Bleaching protocol did not influence on color change, but water storage (aging) did influence on color (ΔE00) and whiteness (ΔWID) changes. However, RBC specimens photoactivated from 8 mm showed color changes above AT after bleaching. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Color instability is one of the major causes for replacing esthetic restorations. The whiteness index for dentistry (WID) was able to show the "whiter-darker" effect on RBC after bleaching and aging. Dentists should be aware that RBC may appear darker after HB. Regardless of the photoactivation distance, OB did not show a perceptible difference immediately after bleaching. However, OB and HB showed a darker effect after aging procedure.

Influência dos agentes clareadores na dureza e cor de materiais restauradores diretos

Avaliar, in vitro, a variação de cor e dureza de três materiais restauradores (3M ESPE): Ketac Molar Easymix (KME); Vitremer (VT) e resina composta Filtek Z250 (Z250) após o clareamento com peróxido de carbamida a 37% (PC37- Whiteness Super) e peróxido de hidrogênio a 35% (PH35- Whiteness HP Maxx). Materiais e método: foram confeccionados 108 corpos de prova (CP), sendo 36 para cada material, avaliados inicialmente (baseline) e após cada aplicação dos agentes clareadores realizadas em subseqüentes 7 períodos, ou seja, após 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 e 42 dias. As avaliações colorimétricas (coordenadas CIELAB) dos CP foram realizadas usando um espectrofotômetro (Easyshade, Vita Zahnfabrik, Bad Sackingen, Alemanha) sob fundo branco e em ambiente clínico. Para a avaliação da dureza (H), usou-se um durômetro (Pantec HVS 10, Panambra Ind. e Téc. SA, São Paulo, SP Brasil) com penetrador tipo Vickers. Os resultados das diferenças de cor (∆E*ab), diferenças de L* (∆L*) e H foram calculados e avaliados estatisticamente usando análise de variância (ANOVA) e as diferenças avaliadas pelo teste Tukey (α=0,05). Resultados: após o clareamento, houve alterações significativas no valor de ∆E*ab para os dois materiais a base de ionômero de vidro (KME e VT), com ambos os clareadores (PC37 e PH35) mostrando efeito similar para cada material. Não houve diferença na H dos materiais. Conclusão: após 42 dias, agentes clareadores alteraram a cor dos materiais ionoméricos e não alteraram a dureza dos materiais testados.