Color-Matching and Blending-Effect of Universal Shade Bulk-Fill-Resin-Composite in Resin-Composite-Models and Natural Teeth.

. To assess visually color-matching and blending-effect (BE) of a universal shade bulk-fill-resin-composite placed in resin-composite-models with different shades and cavity sizes and in natural teeth (extracted and patients' teeth). . Resin-composite-discs (10 mm × 1 mm) were prepared of universal shade composite and resin-composite of shades: A1, A2, A3, A3.5, and A4. Spectrophotometric-color-measurement was performed to calculate color-difference (Δ) between the universal shade and shaded-resin-composites discs and determine their translucency-parameter (TP). Visual assessment was performed by seven normal-color-vision-observers to determine the color-matching between the universal shade and each shade, under Illuminant D65. Color-matching visual scoring (VS) values were expressed numerically (1-5): 1: mismatch/totally unacceptable, 2: Poor-Match/hardly acceptable, 3: Good-Match/acceptable, 4: Close-Match/small-difference, and 5: Exact-Match/no-color-difference. Occlusal cavities of different sizes were prepared in teeth-like resin-composite-models with shades A1, A2, A3, A3.5, and A4. The cavities were filled by the universal shade composite. The same scale was used to score color-matching between the fillings and composite-models. BE was calculated as difference in mean-visual-scores in models and that of discs. Extracted teeth with two different class I-cavity sizes as well as ten patients' lower posterior molars with occlusal caries were prepared, filled by universal shade composite, and assessed similarly. . In models, the universal shade composite showed close matching in the different cavity sizes and surrounding shades (4 ≤ VS < 5) (BE = 0.6-2.9 in small cavities and 0.5-2.8 in large cavities). In extracted teeth, there was good-to-close color-matching (VS = 3.7-4.4 in small cavities, BE = 2.5-3.2) (VS = 3-3.5, BE = 1.8-2.3 in large cavities). In patients' molars, the universal shade composite showed good-matching (VS = 3-3.3, BE = -0.9-2.1). . Color-matching of universal shade resin-composite was satisfactory rather than perfect in patients' teeth.