Purpose: Staining of prosthodontic materials may result in patient dissatisfaction and additional expense for replacement. This study aimed to determine the color stability of two heat-cured denture base acrylic (Lucitone 550, Vipi Cril) and one nylon denture base resin (Transflex) after immersion in beverages.
Materials and methods: Forty disks of each resin (20.0-mm diameter, 3.0-mm thick) were prepared and stored in distilled water for 24 hours at 37°C. During that time (T(0) ), the color of all specimens was spectrophotometrically measured. Each specimen was immersed in coffee, cola, red wine, and distilled water as a means of control. After 15-day (T(1) ) and 30-day (T(2) ) periods of immersion, the color of the specimens was measured again. The CIE (Commission Internationale de L' Eclairage) L*a*b* system was used to determine mean ΔE (color changes) values for each material and compared statistically with two-way ANOVA and Bonferroni intervals at 0.95.
Results: In ΔET(0) T(1) and ΔET(0) T(2) the most severe staining was apparent with red wine (p < 0.001), followed by coffee (p < 0.01), when compared to the specimens stored in distilled water. Transflex also showed significant color change after immersion in cola (p < 0.01). In ΔET(1) T(2) only red wine promoted significant staining of all resins (p < 0.0001).
Conclusion: Chromatic changes were exhibited by specimens immersed in red wine, followed by coffee. For Transflex, cola also promoted color changes. The values of color changes converted to National Bureau of Standard units showed them to be perceivable to the human eye.
© 2011 by the American College of Prosthodontists.