Translucency and Radiopacity of Dental Resin Composites – Is There a Direct Relation?
The purpose of this study was to correlate the translucency degree of varying resin composites with their radiopacity. Twenty-four resin composites (conventional or bulk-fill) of various shades and opacities were selected from the following manufacturers: 3M ESPE (nanofilled), Ivoclar (nanohybrid), and FGM (microhybrid). Resin composite samples (n=5) were prepared (5-mm diameter × 1.5-mm thickness) for comparison using prepared samples of human dentin and enamel as controls. The translucency of each sample was measured using the translucent parameter (TP) method with a digital spectrophotometer (Vita Easyshade) and CIEL*a*b* color system over white and black backgrounds. The samples were also x-rayed using a photostimulable phosphor plate system for measurement of their radiopacity (in mmAl). All data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Student-Newman-Keuls (α=0.05); data for TP and radiopacity were correlated using the Spearman correlation test. Overall, the translucent shades and bulk-fill resin composites showed greater translucency than the other resins. While “body” and “enamel” shades demonstrated intermediate translucency to dentin and enamel, the “dentin” shades were more standardized, showing similar translucency to human dentin. All tested resin composites showed similar or greater radiopacity to human enamel, except the Empress Direct (Ivoclar) resin with Trans Opal shade, which was not radiopaque. Dentin and enamel showed radiopacity similar to 1 and 2 mmAl (millimeters of aluminum), respectively. The resin composites investigated in this study differed regarding their translucency degree and radiopacity level, without any positive relationship between the two properties.SUMMARY
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Information of brand, color shade, translucency parameter (TP), radiopacity (Rx) in mmAl, and filler fraction (in wt%) of the resin composites tested in the study. (Different letters indicate statistically significant differences in the same column.)
Dispersion graph showing the relation between the relative radiographic density and translucency parameter data collected from the resin composites tested in the study. The graph presents all distinct color shades and opacity degrees investigated. Dentin and enamel samples were used as controls. Abbreviations: Op, Opallis; OBF, Opus Bulk Fill; OBFF, Opus Bulk-Fill Flow.
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