title: Translucency of value resin composites used to replace enamel in stratified composite restoration techniques.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The translucency of enamel shade is a crucial property that affects the color of a layered restoration.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the translucency of high-, medium-, and low-value resin composites (4 Seasons, Ivoclar Vivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein) used to replace enamel in stratified composite restoration techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  The color specimens with 12 mm in diameter and various thicknesses (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 mm) were measured after polymerization on a reflection spectrophotometer over white and black backgrounds to calculate the translucency parameter (TP). The statistical analysis of TP was accomplished using two-way analysis of variance (p < 0.05). Significant differences were revealed by the Tukey's Honestly Significant Difference post hoc test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Translucency of the value composite resins was influenced by the value and thickness. Color of value resin composites was dependent on the background contrast at the evaluated thicknesses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High-value composite resins were more translucent than medium-value composites, which were more translucent than low-value composites. The translucency decreased as the thickness of the specimens increased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that special attention should be paid to the thickness of the increment of value composite resins when reproducing translucency of natural tooth enamel.
authors.affiliation: Operative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmeling
authors.forename: Mauro Amaral Caldeira
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: DE Andrada
authors.forename: Hamilton Pires
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Maia
authors.forename: Edson Medeiros
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: DE Araújo
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003116:Color; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D058105:Polymerization; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D003188:Composite Resins; D003764:Dental Materials; C111840:flowable hybrid composite