Aging and Staining Effects on Optical Properties of Flowable Composites

Resin composites have become the preferred restorative material in modern dentistry due to their superior esthetics, improved physical properties, and advancements in curing technologies. To enhance their clinical performance, manufacturers continuously refine the resin matrix and optimize filler particle size and shape, improving both mechanical strength and optical characteristics. Evaluating optical properties is crucial for predicting the performance of resin composites over time, particularly in maintaining color, gloss, translucency, and overall appearance. Translucency refers to a material's ability to transmit and scatter light. This in vitro study evaluated changes in color, translucency, and gloss of nine commercially available flowable resin composites following artificial accelerated aging (AAA) and staining. Specimens were subjected to AAA and staining in black tea, coffee, and red wine. Using a spectrophotometer, color and translucency measurements were performed before and after the AAA and staining. Gloss measurements were performed using a small-area glossmeter before and after the AAA and staining. A two-way ANOVA was used to compare the effects of material and treatment, followed by Tukey's post hoc multiple comparison test to assess differences among levels within each variable (α = 0.05). A statistically significant interaction was observed between materials and procedures (p < 0.05) for color changes. All tested composites displayed translucency parameter changes within clinically acceptable limits. Gloss retention percentage upon treatments remained high across all composites tested. AAA and staining significantly influenced the color stability, translucency, and gloss retention of tested flowable resin composites, and were material- and procedure-dependent.