A colorimetric study of coffee and tea staining of four composite resins.

Colorimetric measurements were made on four composite resins before and after controlled immersion treatments. The four composite resins were: Adaptic (Johnson and Johnson), Prestige (Lee Pharmaceuticals), Addent XV (3M Mfg. Co.) and Smile (Kerr Mfg. Co.). Specimens of each material were prepared with mylar surfaces and with abraded finished surfaces. Separate groups of specimens of the four materials were immersed in three separate solutions for 12 days at 55c. The three solutions used were: a control solution of distilled water and coffee and a solution of distilled water and tea. For all materials and surface finishes, immersion in coffee and tea produced significantly greater colour changes than distilled water. Coffee produced significantly greater colour changes than tea with the exception of 'Prestige' and 'Addent XV' with finished surfaces. When immersed in a tea solution, specimens of the same material with differing surface finishes showed greater differences in colour change than when immersed in control and coffee solutions. The relative colour changes of the four materials due to the immersion procedures were as follows: 'Adaptic' showed the least colour changes and "Smile' showed the most. 'Addent XV' and 'Prestige' tended to vary between the former two. Comparison and correlation of colorimetry results with visual assessment scores allowed for the expression of the objective measures in subjective terms suitable for clinical purposes.