A comparative study on color and dimensional stability of esthetic indirect dental materials

Abstract

In selecting dental materials, color and dimensional stability play key roles in mechanical characteristics as well as esthetic aspects. While resin nano ceramics have been examined to determine their mechanical characteristics in carious experiments, few studies have focused on their intra-oral stability, specifically their long-term color stability or water sorption. In this study, ceramic, resin nano ceramic, and composite resin were analyzed to evaluate their color stability, water sorption, and solubility. The amount of characteristic changes was measured using a spectrometer, an electronic scale, and a caliper for durations of 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks. The results showed that ceramic was the most stable among all materials, whereas resin nano ceramic and composite resin demonstrated time-dependent changes, which require more clinical considerations for long-term use.