Objective To analyze the effects of factors 'composite,' 'medium,' and 'time' on color, translucency, and sorption/solubility of sculptable universal composites for enamel layering upon immersion in colored beverages. Materials and methods Disk‐shaped specimens, 10 mm in diameter and 2 mm thick (n = 5/group), of ultrafine, hybrid composite Essentia (GC), microhybrid Gaenial Anterior (GC), nanofilled Filtek Ultimate Enamel and Body ( 3M ESPE) were immersed in red wine, coffee, or distilled water for 15 days. CIELab color coordinates were measured and CIEDE2000 (∆E00) and Translucency Parameter differences (∆TP00) were calculated. Sorption and solubility were determined according to ISO 4049:2009. Data were analyzed using the analyses of variance and Tukey's post‐hoc test (α = 0.05). Results Essentia and Gaenial exhibited the lowest and the highest staining‐dependent color differences, with mean ∆E00 range of 1.7–6.1 and 5.1–11.3, respectively (p < 0.05). ∆TP00 was more pronounced in wine than in coffee (p < 0.05). Sorption and solubility varied between 9.8 and 15.3 μg/mm3 and −1.6 and −5.4 μg/mm3, respectively, with positive correlation between ∆TP00 and sorption (p = 0.005). Conclusions Total color and translucency differences of sculptable composites for enamel layering were material‐, time‐ and medium‐dependent. Translucency differences positively correlated with sorption. Overall, the ultrafine, hybrid composite exhibited the best results in terms of color stability, sorption and solubility. Clinical significance Clinicians should be aware of differences in color stability of sculptable composites for enamel layering as these are directly exposed to discoloration in the oral environment and are directly related to patients' long‐term satisfaction and restoration longevity. Ultrafine, hybrid composite may be preferred due to better color stability, lower sorption and solubility compared to nanofilled and microhybrid composites evaluated in this study.

The aim of this study was to compare color changes, surface roughness and gloss of a microhybrid and nanohybrid composite whitened in a simulated in-office or at-home procedure using 40% hydrogen peroxide or 16% carbamide peroxide, respectively. CIELab coordinates were measured before, during and after treatment using VITA EasyShade V (VITA) and ∆E00 calculated. Surface roughness was measured using a surface roughness tester (SJ210; Mitutoyo). Gloss was measured using a gloss checker (IG-331; Horiba). At-home whitening resulted in ∆E00 of 1.23±0.49 (microhybrid) and 1.01±0.76 (nanohybrid). In-office exposure resulted in ∆E00 of 0.69±0.38 (microhybrid) and 0.72±0.50 (nanohybrid). There were no significant differences in ∆E00, surface roughness and gloss between whitening protocols (p>0.05). Color changes of a microhybrid and nanohybrid composite following simulated in-office or at-home whitening reached CIEDE2000 50:50% perceptibility but not acceptability threshold. Surface roughness and gloss of the microhybrid and nanohybrid composite were not affected by whitening.

Introduction/Objectives. To measure degree of conversion (DC), immediate and long-term microshear bond strength (?SBS) to dentin of a universal adhesive relative to the light tip position and adhesive application protocol. Methods. Mid-coronal flat dentin of 48 human third molars was exposed and split in halves. Single Bond Universal (SBU; 3M) adhesive was applied to each half following ?total-etch? (TE) or ?self-etch? (SE) approach. Depending on the light tip (bluephase G2, Ivoclar Vivadent) angle and distance from adhesive surface, three groups were compared: "1 mm_90?" (control); "8 mm_90?" and "8 mm_60?". Cylindrical composite build-ups (?1.7mm, Filtek Z250, 3M) were prepared in each half. DC was measured using Raman spectroscopy. ?SBS was measured after 24 hours and six months storage in distilled water at 37?C. Fracture types were analyzed. Results. No significant difference in DC was detected between groups "1 mm_90?" (89.1 ? 6.2%) and "8 mm_90?" (94.6 ? 1.2%) (p > 0.05), both showing significantly higher DC (p < 0.05) than "8 mm_60?" group (74.9 ? 9.5%) (p < 0.05). Initially, there were no significant differences in ?SBS between groups (p > 0.05). Group "1 mm_90?" TE (12.8 ? 4.3MPa) and group "8 mm_60?" TE (14.7 ? 5.7MPa) showed significantly lower ?SBS after aging (8.4 ? 4.3MPa and 9.2 ? 2.6MPa, respectively) (p < 0.05). Adhesive fractures were predominantly detected. Conclusion. Initially, both application protocols resulted in similar bond strength to dentin of a universal adhesive in suboptimal curing conditions. In the long-term, SE showed greater adhesive resistance to degradation resulting in smaller decrease in bond strength compared to TE. Light tip angulation affected DC and ?SBS more than tip-to-surface distance. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. ON172007]

The objective of this study was to measure temperature changes in the pulp chamber induced by polymerization of resin-based dental restoratives following a simulated procedure of direct pulp capping. Class I cavities with a microperforation at the pulp horn were prepared in extracted human molar teeth. The complete procedure of direct pulp capping and cavity restoration was performed with the root part of extracted teeth fixed in a water bath at 37 °C. Mineral trioxide aggregate, bioactive dentin substitute or calciumhydroxide paste were used as pulp capping materials. Cavities were restored with a lightcured or chemically-cured resin-modified glass ionomer, universal adhesive and a bulk-fill composite, cured with a high-intensity LED unit. Pulp capping materials caused a slight temperature decrease. Lower temperature increase was recorded during light-curing of the glass ionomer liner after direct capping with mineral trioxide aggregate and calciumhydroxide than that recorded for the bioactive dentin substitute. Adhesive light-curing increased temperature in all groups with higher mean temperatures in groups with chemically-cured as compared to those for the light-cured glass ionomer liner. Direct pulp capping with mineral trioxide aggregate or calcium-hydroxide followed by the light-cured resin-modified glass ionomer liner and a bonded bulk-fill composite restoration induced temperature changes below the potentially adverse threshold of 42.5 °C.