Spectrophotometric Evaluation of Color Stability and Surface Microhardness of Resin Composites After Gastric Acid Erosion

The study aimed to investigate the effect of gastric acidic on color stability and surface hardness of resin-composites after 24 h acidic storage. Four bulk fill resin-composites (FiltekTM, SureFil SDR, Tetric N-Ceram, Beautifil Bulk) and one flowable composite (Dynamic Flow) were investigated using disk-shaped specimen for each study group before and after 24 h acidic storage (1.2 pH) at 37 degrees C. Color changes (triangle E00) were evaluated using spectrophotometer at baseline (24 h post-irradiation: T1) and after 24 h of acidic storage (T2). Surface microhardness was measured at T1 and T2. The results inferred that, except FBF, all the study groups revealed significant and unacceptable color changes and reduction in microhardness. The triangle E00 ranged from 0.77 (FBF) to 28.73 (BBR) with FBF falls within an acceptable range (1.8). All the composites showed reduction in microhardness ranged from 20.48 (FBF) to 72.35 (BBR) with FBF showing the least reduction in microhardness. The data was analyzed by using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey post-hoc analysis for multiple comparisons at a significance level of alpha = 0.05. Within the limitations of this study, FBF demonstrated better performance in acidic solution by showing the least color changes and reduction in microhardness as compared with other groups.