The Effect of Loading Time on Color Stability of Various Restorative Materials Bonded to Silver Diamine Fluoride-Treated Demineralized Dentin

AIM: To investigate the effect of immediate versus one week later loading time on color stability of resin-based composite (RBC), resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC) and glass ionomer cement (GIC) restorative materials bonded to silver diamine fluoride (SDF)-treated demineralized dentin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety extracted premolars were randomly assigned to the following groups (n = 30 each): group-I (loaded with RBCs), group-II (loaded with RMGIC), and group-III (loaded with GIC). Each group was divided randomly into the following subgroups (n = 10): subgroup-A (control specimens) consisted of sound dentin and the restorative material was immediately loaded; subgroup-B consisted of demineralized dentin, underwent a SDF treatment and the restorative material was immediately loaded; subgroup-C consisted of demineralized dentin, underwent a SDF treatment and the restorative material was loaded 1 week later. The color difference (ΔE) and visual color changes (L*a*b*) of each specimen were calculated using a spectrophotometer. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey’s tests to compare the ΔE values and a paired t test to compare the mean of L* a* b* coordinates. RESULTS: The highest color stability was observed for GIC, followed by RMGIC, and the lowest color stability was observed for the RBC group. Significant differences within groups were noted in RBC and RMGIC (p < 0.001). Regarding the loading time of the restorative material, in RBCs, a significantly lower ΔE value was observed in the delayed loading group than in the immediate loading group (p = 0.035). In the RMGIC and GIC groups, there were no significant differences. CONCLUSION: Delaying the loading time of the restorative material for 1 week following the application of SDF resulted in greater color stability than that of immediate loading. The caries arresting potential of SDF was revealed by the dark staining, which could be improved with the subsequent delayed restoration.