EFFECT OF BRUSHING SIMULATION ON THE COLOUR STABILITY OF PROVISIONAL FIXED PROSTHODONTIC MATERIALS – AN IN VITRO STUDY

Background: In dentistry, provisional fixed prosthodontic materials are essential because they act as temporary
restorations that preserve prepared teeth, retain their aesthetic appeal, and ensure their proper function until the final
prosthesis is made. Colour stability refers to the ability of a material to maintain its original colour over time,
despite exposure to various environmental factors. The aim of this study is to assess how brushing simulation affects
the colour stability of two types of provisional fixed prosthodontic materials.
Materials and Methods: Ten disc-shaped specimens (10 mm diameter, 2 mm height) from Ivoclar and AVUE T
Crown (five each) were prepared to evaluate colour stability. Using a brushing simulator (ZM3.8 SD Mechatronik),
samples underwent 10,000 brushing cycles (2 hours) with Dabar Red Herbal toothpaste. Colour measurements were
taken before and after brushing with a Konica Minolta CM5 spectrophotometer, and Delta E values were calculated.
Paired t-tests in SPSS version 23 compared pre- and post-brushing colour stability, with results tabulated.
Results: The study evaluated the colour stability (ΔE) of Ivoclar and AVUE T Crown provisional materials under
simulated brushing. Ivoclar samples had minimal colour change (average ΔE 0.716), indicating good stability.
AVUE samples showed significant colour shifts (average ΔE 6.498). The statistically significant p-value of 0.04
highlights the impact of brushing on colour stability, stressing the need for durable materials in routine oral hygiene.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates that Ivoclar materials exhibit superior colour stability compared to AVUE
materials, maintaining clinically acceptable ΔE values under simulated brushing conditions. These findings
underscore the importance of selecting materials that resist colour change, ensuring aesthetic integrity and patient
satisfaction in temporary dental restorations.