Effect of vulcanization temperature and dental stone colour on colour degradation of maxillofacial silicone elastomers

BACKGROUND: Colour degradation is a major problem in maxillofacial silicone elastomers. Recent studies have focused on colour stability and the mechanical properties of the silicone elastomers. A colour match is also essential for the acceptance of the prosthesis by the patient. The aim of this study is to assess the colour degradation of the silicone elastomer after being moulded in different colours of dental stones at two different vulcanization temperatures. METHODS: Five different colours of dental stones were used to fabricate a total of 120 silicone blocks using a Cosmesil M511 maxillofacial silicone elastomer. Vulcanization was completed at two different temperatures (25 and 100° Celsius). Colour measurements were obtained with a Conica Minolta spectrophotometer. The CIEDE2000 formula was used to calculate the colour differences (∆E00). Two-way ANOVA, one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni corrected post-hoc p values and independent samples t-test were used for the statistical analyses. RESULTS: High temperature vulcanization causes lightening of the maxillofacial silicone elastomers without regard to the dental stone colour (p = 0.001). Specimens moulded in green stone lightened least at room temperature (p = 0.999). Compared to the control group, at high temperature, all specimens moulded in coloured dental stones darkened significantly (p < 0.001 for white, blue and yellow; p = 0.006 for green; p = 0.045 for reddish-brown). In the high temperature group, the shift to a green chroma was significant in the white, yellow and green dental stones groups (p = 0.001, p = 0.002, p < 0.001, respectively). The mean b* of the high temperature control group was higher than that of the room temperature control group (p < 0.001). The only ∆E00 score lower than the perceptibility threshold for dental materials (∆E00 = 1.30) was between the room temperature control group and the room temperature green dental stone group (∆E00 = 0.96). CONCLUSIONS: Green and blue dental stones cause less colour degradation in silicone elastomers. Reddish-brown dental stones cause the most colour degradation in silicone elastomers. At 100 °C, the colour of the silicone elastomer lightens and yellows even if the elastomer is vulcanized in a stainless steel mould. White, yellow and reddish-brown dental stones make the silicone elastomer appear more yellow even if the elastomer is vulcanized at room temperature.