Color-Matching and Blending-Effect of Universal Shade Bulk-Fill-Resin-Composite in Resin-Composite-Models and Natural Teeth

Objectives. To assess visually color-matching and blending-effect (BE) of a universal shade bulk-fill-resin-composite placed in resin-composite-models with different shades and cavity sizes and in natural teeth (extracted and patients' teeth). Materials and Methods. Resin-composite-discs (10 mm × 1 mm) were prepared of universal shade composite and resin-composite of shades: A1, A2, A3, A3.5, and A4. Spectrophotometric-color-measurement was performed to calculate color-difference (ΔE) between the universal shade and shaded-resin-composites discs and determine their translucency-parameter (TP). Visual assessment was performed by seven normal-color-vision-observers to determine the color-matching between the universal shade and each shade, under Illuminant D65. Color-matching visual scoring (VS) values were expressed numerically (1–5): 1: mismatch/totally unacceptable, 2: Poor-Match/hardly acceptable, 3: Good-Match/acceptable, 4: Close-Match/small-difference, and 5: Exact-Match/no-color-difference. Occlusal cavities of different sizes were prepared in teeth-like resin-composite-models with shades A1, A2, A3, A3.5, and A4. The cavities were filled by the universal shade composite. The same scale was used to score color-matching between the fillings and composite-models. BE was calculated as difference in mean-visual-scores in models and that of discs. Extracted teeth with two different class I-cavity sizes as well as ten patients' lower posterior molars with occlusal caries were prepared, filled by universal shade composite, and assessed similarly. Results. In models, the universal shade composite showed close matching in the different cavity sizes and surrounding shades (4 ≤ VS < 5) (BE = 0.6–2.9 in small cavities and 0.5–2.8 in large cavities). In extracted teeth, there was good-to-close color-matching (VS = 3.7–4.4 in small cavities, BE = 2.5–3.2) (VS = 3–3.5, BE = 1.8–2.3 in large cavities). In patients' molars, the universal shade composite showed good-matching (VS = 3–3.3, BE = −0.9–2.1). Conclusions. Color-matching of universal shade resin-composite was satisfactory rather than perfect in patients' teeth.