Abstract
Objective. The aim of the study is to test the effects of three different aging methods on colour change (E00) in three different all-ceramic systems prepared in two thicknesses (0.5 and 1.0 mm).
Materials and methods. Zirconia Katana UTML (ZK), Prettau Anterior (PA) and IPS-e.max press (EP) prepared in two thicknesses were tested using in vitro artificial accelerated aging (AAA), thermocycling (TC) and autoclave aging (AA) methods. The effects on the colour (CIE L*a*b*) differences were determined using a spectrophotometer and evaluated by analysis of variance (ANOVA).
Results. The aging protocols affected the E00-values of the ceramic systems at different levels (0.64–2.69), and the ceramic thicknesses were statistically significant (P <0.5). Generally (excluding the 0.5-mm EP group), the highest E00 value among the methods of aging was in the AAA applied samples, followed by those in the TC and the AA. Also, the ceramic thickness was found to be significant in testing aging protocols. In addition, the E00-values of the ceramic materials tested were below the clinically accepted level.
Conclusions. Three ceramic types – prepared in two different thicknesses and applied for three 1-year in vitro aging protocols – were affected at different levels by the aging methods tested, and significant colour differences were determined among all the ceramic samples.
Clinical Significance: One-year applications of three aging protocols (AAA, TC and AA) resulted in significant differences in the E00-values of ceramic systems (ZK, PA and EP). The differences between the E00-values among the aging tests in the all-ceramic types and the all-ceramic thicknesses were significant.