Effect of Bleaching on Staining Susceptibility of Resin Composite Restorative Materials

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM: Effect of bleaching procedures on staining susceptibility of resin restorative materials is still questionable. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the staining susceptibility of restorative materials bleached with 20% carbamide peroxide home bleaching agent and subsequently immersed in coffee and tea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-two disk-shaped specimens were fabricated for each of the resin composites (Filtek Supreme XT 3M ESPE, St. Paul, MN, USA, Ceram-X Mono Dentsply, Konstanz, Germany, and Aelite All Purpose Body BISCO, Inc., Shaumburg, IL, USA). The baseline color values were measured with a spectrophotometer. The specimens of each restorative material were randomly divided into two groups (N = 21). While the first group specimens were stored in distilled water (nonbleaching group-control), bleaching agent (Opalescence PF 20% Ultradent Poducts, South Jordan, UT, USA) was applied on the top surface of each specimen of the second group (bleaching group). After color change values were measured, the specimens were randomly divided into three subgroups (N = 7) according to the staining solutions. The color change values (DeltaE*ab) were calculated and the data were subjected to analysis of variance. Statistical significance was declared if the p value was 0.05 or less. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference within each restorative material's DeltaE*ab values after bleaching (p = 0.714). Also, the staining solutions did not cause a statistically significant difference between DeltaE*ab values of bleaching compared with nonbleaching groups (p = 0.146). Significant interaction was found only between restorative materials and staining solutions (p = 0.000). CONCLUSION: Bleaching of the tested resin composites did not increase their susceptibility to extrinsic staining in vitro. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Bleaching did not affect staining susceptibility of the tested resin composite restorative materials. (J Esthet Restor Dent 21:407-415, 2009).