The Optical Translucency, Opalescence, and Reflectance of Different As-Received Ceramic Brackets: A Spectrophotometer Study

Abstract

To determine the difference in the reflected color coordinates and to compare the translucency and opacity of different as-received ceramic brackets using a spectrophotometer. Four types of ceramic brackets were investigated in this in vitro study. A total of 72 ceramic brackets were examined using a spectrophotometer. Reflected color coordinates of the labial side of bracket were measured according to the Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage (CIE) color scale. Color difference between brackets was calculated using the equation: Δ E*ab = [(Δ L*)2 + (Δ a*)2 + (Δ b*)2] 1/2. Translucency parameter (TP) and opalescence parameter (OP) were calculated to determine translucency and opacity of the brackets, respectively. Data was collected and analyzed using IBM SPSS V25. The significance level was set at p ≤ .05. One-way ANOVA and post hoc multiple comparison tests were utilized. The range for CIE L* (lightness) was 62.69 to 58.83, for a* (red–green parameter) −0.33 to −2.9 and for b* (yellow–blue parameter) −2.19 to 2.29. All these color co-ordinates were influenced by bracket brand ( p < .05). DISCREET™ showed the highest TP = 16.342 and Symetri™ Clear showed the lowest = 10.823. The OP values ranged between 1.783 and 3.781 and Symetri™ Clear showed the highest OP. Color coordinates, TP, and OP of esthetic brackets investigated with a spectrophotometer were significantly different and influenced by the material microstructure and/or manufacturing process.