Fluorescence and color adjustment potentials of paste-type and flowable resin composites in cervical restorations

Comparatively assess the fluorescence and color adjustment potentials of paste-type and flowable resin composites performed in cervical restorations.

Five paste-type resin composites and 5 highly-filled flowable composites were investigated (n=5 for each). Class V cavities on 50 extracted A2 shade human central incisors were restored. Cross-polarization (CP) and fluorescence illumination (FI) images were recorded for each restoration. L*a*b* values were analyzed using the Photoshop software and color adjustment (ΔE_CP) and fluorescence adjustment (ΔE_FI) levels were quantitatively assessed. Kruskal Wallis Test, Independent Samples t Test, One Way Anova-Welch test, and Pearson Correlation were used for the statistical analyses. The deemed significance was set at p<.050.

Paste-type composites presented significantly lower ΔE_FI and ΔE_CP values than the flowable composites (p=.006 and p<.001 respectively). ΔE_FI and ΔE_CP values were positively correlated (r=0.584; p<.001). Paste-type Gaenial A’chord presented the lowest ΔE_FI value [7.67 (5.35 - 10.99)^b], while Estelite Asteria presented significantly the highest [19.94 (17.08 - 22.17)^c]. Charisma Diamond One Flow presented the highest ΔE_CP value [3.25 (3.13 - 3.39)^a] and Gaenial A’chord presented the lowest [0.79 (0.48 - 0.87)^e] which was the only imperceptible score (<0.8). The only clinically acceptable color adjustment was found for Geanial Universal Injectable [1.06 (0.73 - 1.62)^e] among the flowable composites. ΔE_FI and b* values were positively correlated (r=0.493; p<.001).

Color adjustment level and fluorescence adjustment level were considered coherent for particular composite brands. At the same time, both were better for the paste-type composites than the flowable composites on A2 base shade class V restorations. Fluorescence adjustment potential as well as the color adjustment potential varied among different composite brands regarding paste-type and flowable composites.

Understanding both the color and fluorescence adjustment potentials of paste-type and flowable resin-based composite materials is clinically vital to achieve the high-end esthetics.