Evaluation of color stability of ceramic brackets in different crystal structure in vitro

The aim of this study is to evaluate the color changes that may occur in monocrystalline and polycrystalline ceramic brackets in the presence of coloring agents in vitro. The monocrystalline brackets used in our study are Inspire IceTM, Radiance PlusTM and Perfect ClearTM, and the polycrystalline brackets are Clarity AdvancedTM, Symetri ClearTM and 20 / 40TM Ceramic Bracket. A total of 192 brackets were conducted in this study, 32 from each brand. The brackets were divided into 24 groups (n = 8) and exposed to tea, coffee, artificial saliva and cigarette smoke. The color changes that occurred were measured with a colorimeter device. Two-way analysis of variance was used to compare ΔE values according to groups and solutions, and Tukey HSD test was used for multiple comparisons. According to the results of the study, both monocrystalline and polycrystalline brackets showed clinically noticeable discoloration when exposed to coloring agents. When evaluated according to the crystal structure, the monocrystalline brackets showed statistically less color change. When all times are evaluated separately, Inspire IceTM is the bracket brand that shows the least color change, and 20 / 40TM Ceramic Bracket is the bracket brand that shows the most color changes. The agent that causes the most color change was determined as tea. This study shows that drinks that are frequently consumed in daily life can cause discoloration in ceramic brackets depending on time. In addition, the bracket brand, crystal structure of the bracket, coloring agent and time affect the color change degree of the materials.