Color stability of lithium disilicate ceramics after aging and immersion in common beverages.

Statement Of Problem: The color of an esthetic restoration and its color stability are important for long-term success. However, the impact of common beverages on lithium disilicate ceramic is not well known.

Purpose: The purpose of this in vitro study was to investigate color variations of lithium disilicate ceramics after thermocycling (TC) and immersion in commonly consumed beverages.

Material And Methods: A total of 288 specimens (1×10×10 mm) were fabricated from IPS e-max computer-aided design (CAD) (n=72), IPS e-max CERAM ([CER] n=72), IPS e-max Press with glazing ([PG] n=72), and IPS e-max Press without glazing ([PNG] n=72) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Each group was divided into 4 subgroups (n=18): TC, coffee, black tea, and red wine. Thermocycling was performed at 21 900 cycles at 5°C, 37°C, 55°C, and 37°C (3 years' clinical simulation), whereas the specimens were soaked in the staining solutions for up to 54 hours (3 years' clinical simulation). Color parameters L*, a*, and b* were assessed with an ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy recording spectrophotometer. Color difference (ΔE) was calculated using the equation [ΔΕ= [(ΔL*) + (Δa*) + (Δb*)]½]. Intraexaminer reliability was assessed by using the intraclass correlation coefficient. Two-way analysis of variance was used for the analysis of ΔΕ, and the parameters L*, a*, and b* were analyzed with linear mixed models for repeated measurements and the Bonferroni pair-wise comparison test (α=.05).

Results: Parameters ΔΕ, L*, a*, and b* were significantly affected by the interaction between material and treatment (P<.001). A ΔΕ >1 was recorded for PG with tea, wine, and coffee, PG after TC and CER after TC. For L*, greater reduction was observed for PNG with tea and CER after TC, whereas for a* significant changes were positive (to red shades), except for PNG with TC, where PNG with wine showed the greatest positive change. For b*, significant changes were negative (to blue shades) except for PNG with tea and coffee and CAD with tea.

Conclusions: All groups demonstrated color changes below the clinically perceptible level (ΔΕ<3.7), except PNG in tea which showed statistically significant color differences (ΔΕ>4). CAD presented higher color stability compared with the nonglazed Press specimens.