Influence Of Resin Thickness And Background On The Color Of Solidex

Objective: The purpose of this in vitro study was to determine quantitatively the effect of substrate on the color of different thickness Solidex.Materials and Methods: Five specimens of Solidex, of each in shade A1, A3, C2, were fabricated at thicknesses of 1.0, 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8, and 2.0mm. The CIE L*a*b* values of specimens were measured using a colorimeter (ShadeEye NCC) in order to determine the colorimetric difference, when different thickness of specimens overlaid different substrate.Results: The substrate and the thickness of Solidex had perceivably influence on the apparent color. when the thickness was more than 1.8mm, the color different (ΔE<1) was not perceived by human observers. When the thickness was less than 1.4 mm, the color difference (ΔE>2.75) was considered clinically unacceptable between alloy substrate and composite resin substrate. The color difference (ΔE=0.29~1.45) was not evident between two kinds of composite resin substrate.Conclusion: If prosthetic composite resin was less than 1.8 mm thick, alloy substrate had more evident influence on the color of Solidex than composite resin substrate. When making free-metal crown restoration using Solidex, it is advisable to make the material more than 1.8 mm thick.