Color stability of provisional resin restorative materials

Statement of problem. Use of temporary crowns and fixed partial dentures is especially relevant when the treatment plan requires restorations for long interim periods, and the in-service discoloration of provisional restorative materials is a major drawback. Purpose. This study evaluated the discoloration effect of coffee and tea on some materials that are commonly used in the fabrication of provisional restorations. Material and methods. Six commercially available provisional resins (Tet, Caulk TBR, Protemp Garant, Luxatemp Solar, Provipont DC and SR-Ivocron-PE) were evaluated after 1 day, 7 days, and 30 days of immersion in various staining solutions. Color measurements were obtained by using a Dr Lange Micro Color tristimulus colorimeter and color differences (Delta E*) were estimated. Results. The 2 chemically activated resins (Tet and Caulk TBR) and the heat-cured resin (SR-Ivocron PE) exhibited the least color changes, whereas the Provipont-DC resin was the least color stable. After immersion for 30 days, the combination with the coffee solution resulted in unacceptable discoloration for all the tested materials. Conclusions. Provisional restorative materials, staining solutions, and immersion time were significant factors that affected color stability. After immersion for 7 days, all materials showed observable color changes. The composite-based materials, especially light-curing composites, were the least color stable. The coffee solution exhibited more staining capacity than the tea solution.