The effect of ceramic thickness and number of firings on the color of ceramic systems: an in vitro study.
BACKGROUND
Although all-ceramic restorations are widely used, there is a lack of information on how color is affected by fabrication procedures. Color matching problems may be encountered in a definitive restoration despite careful shade selection.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dentin ceramic thickness and repeated firings on the color of glass-infiltrated aluminum-oxide (In-Ceram) and leucite-reinforced (IPS Empress) all-ceramic systems using a colorimeter.


METHODS
Twenty-one disc-shaped specimens, 10 mm in diameter with a 0.6-mm core thickness and 0.5-, 1-, or 1.5-mm dentin ceramic thickness, were made from each of 2 ceramic systems (n=7) . Repeated firings were performed for each group, and the color differences were compared with the color after the initial firing. Color differences among ceramic specimens were measured using a colorimeter (XL-20 Colorimeter), and data were expressed in Commission Internationale d'Eclairage (CIE) LAB system coordinates. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to analyze the data (number of firings, ceramic brand, and ceramic thickness) for significant differences. The Tukey honestly significant difference test and paired 2-tailed tests were used to perform multiple comparisons (alpha=.05).


RESULTS
The L( *)a( *)b( *) values of ceramic systems were affected by the number of firings (3, 5, or 7) (P<.01) and ceramic brand (In-ceram or IPS Empress) (P<.01). L( *) and a( *) values were affected by ceramic thickness (0.5, 1, or 1.5 mm) (P<.01); however, b( *) value was not affected by ceramic thickness (P=.075). Significant interactions were present in L( *), a( *), b( *) values between number of firings and ceramic brand (P<.01), and between ceramic brand and ceramic thickness (P<.05). Significant interactions were present between number of firings and ceramic thickness (P<.01) in L( *) and b( *) values but not in the a( *) value (P=.379).


CONCLUSIONS
The analysis revealed that there were substantial changes in L( *)a( *)b( *) color data as the number of firings increased, which resulted in perceptual color changes in L( *)a( *)b( *) color parameters.
Uludag
Bulent
B
Faculty of Dentistry, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey.
Usumez
Aslihan
A
Sahin
Volkan
V
Eser
Kursat
K
Ercoban
Ertugrul
E
D003776:Dental Porcelain / Q000737:chemistry*; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008422:Materials Testing; D003765:Models, Dental / Q000592:standards; D017797:Prosthesis Coloring / Q000592:standards*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013674:Technology, Dental
D003776:Dental Porcelain