Light energy transmission through composite influenced by material shades.

This study investigated the influence of different composite resin shades on light energy transmission through the composite, hardness and cross-link density (CLD). The composite Filtek Z250 was used in shades A1, A2, A3, A3.5 and A4. A quartz tungsten halogen light curing unit was used at an irradiance of 900 mW/cm(2). Thirty specimens were made for each shade. Light energy transmission that passed through the composite was calculated (n=10). Differences in Knoop hardness between the top and bottom (DKH) of the same specimen were calculated (n=10). The Knoop hardness value for each surface was recorded as the average of three indentations (KHN(1)). Thereafter, the specimens were soaked in absolute ethanol for 24hr at room temperature, and hardness was again determined (KHN(2)). The CLD was estimated by the softening effect produced by ethanol, i.e., by decrease in hardness. The percentage of decrease in KHN(2) compared with KHN(1) (PD) in the same specimen was then calculated for both surfaces (n=10). The data were submitted to an ANOVA in different tests (Light energy transmission, Knoop hardness and CLD). The irradiance of light that passed through composite shade A1 (408 mW/cm(2)) was statistically greater than that through shade A2 (376 mW/cm(2)), and was greater through A2 than A3 (359 mW/cm(2)) and through A3 than A3.5 (327 mW/cm(2)); A3.5 showed no statistical difference when compared to A4 (324 mW/cm(2)). The DKH of A4 (20.56%) was not statistically higher than that of A3.5 (20.14%), which was greater than that of A3 (14.08%), A2 (11.65%) and A1 (9.06%). There was no statistical difference in CLD. Darker shades had a significant influence on light energy transmission through dental resin composite and its hardness. However, CLD was not affected by darker dental composite shades.