The effect of refractive index of fillers and polymer matrix on translucency and color matching of dental resin composite.

OBJECTIVE

When restorative resin composites absorb light from the surrounding tooth structures, it creates a color-match, which is known as 'a chameleon effect'. In this study, series of co-monomer mixtures were prepared with an increasing refraction index (RI) and mixed with glass fillers. The aim of this study was to optimize the mismatch of RI of resin/fillers to create the chameleon effect.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

BisGMA/TEGDMA resins were prepared with seven different mix fractions from 20 to 80%. Two different series (A&B) of submicron (Ø 0.7 μm) silanized fillers (70 wt%) (A: Schott RI = 1.53, B: Esschem RI = 1.54) were mixed with resins (30 wt%). Disc-shaped specimens (1 mm thickness, Ø10 mm) for each composite combination ( = 3) were prepared and light cured for 20 s. Commercial resin composite (OmniChroma, Tokuyama Dental) was used as control. The translucency parameter (TP) was measured using a spectrophotometer. The color matching abilities of the experimental composites were visually analyzed. Data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA.

RESULTS

The composition of resin and type of fillers had a statistically significant effect on TP values ( < .05). The highest TP values were achieved around 50%-50% fractions of Bis-GMA and TEGDMA for series A and around 60%-40% fraction of Bis-GMA and TEGDMA for series B. Data showed that a high or low fraction of BisGMA resulted in a low translucent composite. Experimental resin composite (80% Bis-GMA) from series A was behaving similarly to Omnichroma in reference to TP values and color matching.

CONCLUSIONS

Including fillers with RI of 1.53 into BisGMA/TEGDMA resin with RI of 1.524 resulted in composite resin providing a good color match with surrounding structure 'chameleon effect'.