This study investigated the effect of sealant application on the color stability of composite resin restorations. Cavities in bovine incisors were restored with composite resin (Opallis; FGM) and the teeth were assigned to 4 groups (n=10). A sealant (Fill Glaze; Vigodent) was applied over the restorations of 2 groups. Baseline color measurements based on the CIEL*a*b* system were carried out using a spectrophotometer. Half the number of specimens was immersed in distilled water, and half was immersed in coffee 4 h/day. Color measurements were repeated after 1 h, 24 h, 7 days and 3 months. Data for each immersion solution were separately subjected to a two-way repeated measures ANOVA and Tukey’s test (α=0.05). For the group without sealant immersed in water, no significant differences were observed among the periods (p≥0.138), but the color was different compared with baseline (p<0.001). For the group with sealant application, the periods baseline, 1 h and 3 months presented similar results (p≥0.924). For groups immersed in coffee, when the sealant was not used, no significant differences were detected between the baseline and the periods 1 h and 24 h (p≥0.499), but the color changed significantly thereafter (p≤0.003). In the group with sealant, significant differences were detected for all periods compared with each other (p<0.001). In conclusion, application of sealant dramatically increased the staining of the restorations exposed to coffee.
coffee; color; composite resins; immersion; spectrophotometry
