Fluorescence of composite resins: A comparison among properties of commercial shades.

The aim of this study was to determine singular fluorescence qualities of different, commercially available resin composites shades. A total of 234 brand name colors including enamel, dentin and special shades were examined using a monochromator-based spectrophotometer. From the examined composites, Filtek Z250 (867±279) RFU and Supreme XT (dentin shades: (1,585±507) RFU; enamel shades: (4,473±330) RFU) are the only brands with a mean fluorescence maximum that resembles the fluorescence of natural samples. The shade types of the other brands showed a three to fifteen times higher mean maximum fluorescence (dentin shades: (10,331-47,774) RFU; enamel shades: (19,283-38,264) RFU; special shades: (35,934-60,001) RFU). The results of the present study supply for the first time individual fluorescence qualities of a vast sample of different composite shades, data needed not only for the development of new materials, but for diagnostic reasons in routine (re-)treatment, forensic and epidemiological endeavors.