Direct tooth-colored restorative materials: a comparative analysis of the fluorescence properties among different shades

Objective: The fluorescence properties of tooth-colored restorative materials can vary according to the shade of the material. The objective of this study was to investigate the fluorescence behavior of different shades of selected contemporary tooth-colored restorative materials when illuminated with violet light (405 nm wavelength). Methods: Fifteen different tooth-colored restorative materials, in total 111 shades, were analyzed. Samples of 10-mm diameter and 5-mm thickness were fabricated for each shade. The levels of red, blue, green, and luminosity were analyzed for each sample under 405 nm illumination and an orange long pass filter, using data from the histogram tool in Adobe Photoshop software. Results: There were significant variations in fluorescence luminosity according to both shade and manufacturer. Within any one brand of material, fluorescence emissions differed according to shade, with the lightest shades giving the strongest emissions. Variations in fluorescence were most prominent for composite resins, followed by ormocers, and then glass-ionomer materials. There were also significant variations in fluorescence luminosity between materials of the same shade made by different manufacturers. Conclusion: Fluorescence emissions vary considerably among different shades of the same material, and between different materials that are labelled as having the same shade. In the present study, the lightest shades had the greatest emissions under UV light.