Illuminating the Spectrum: A Spectrophotometric Exploration of Beverage Effects on Hybrid and Nano-Hybrid Resin Composites: An In Vitro Study
- 1Conservative Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry Qassim University, Buraidah, SAU
- 2Dentistry, College of Dentistry Qassim University, Buraidah, SAU
Abstract
Resin composite restorations are widely used for their aesthetics and mechanical durability, yet their clinical longevity is often limited by discoloration and surface degradation caused by dietary chromogens and acidic beverages. This in vitro study aimed to evaluate and compare the color stability of a universal hybrid composite (Filtek Z250) and a nano-hybrid composite (Filtek Z350) after exposure to tea, coffee, and pomegranate juice, using distilled water as a control, quantified by spectrophotometry. Eighty standardized composite discs (10 mm × 2 mm) were fabricated (n=40/material), LED-cured per manufacturer instructions, and polished using a uniform multi-step protocol. Specimens were immersed individually in 10 mL of the assigned liquid and stored at 37°C and 100% relative humidity, with color measured at baseline and after one, seven, and 30 days using CIELAB parameters; color change was calculated as ΔE, and each specimen was measured three times to enhance reliability. Mean ΔE values increased with immersion time for both materials in all beverages, indicating time-dependent discoloration. Coffee produced the greatest staining (hybrid: one day 1.25, seven days 2.70, 30 days 4.70; nano-hybrid: 1.10, 2.10, 3.90), followed by tea (hybrid: 1.10, 2.50, 4.00; nano-hybrid: 0.95, 1.90, 3.20) and pomegranate juice (hybrid: 0.90, 1.80, 3.50; nano-hybrid: 0.85, 1.50, 3.00), whereas distilled water caused minimal change (hybrid: 0.20-0.40; nano-hybrid: 0.15-0.34). Across beverages and time points, the hybrid composite consistently showed higher ΔE than the nano-hybrid composite; however, the reported paired t-test p-values exceeded 0.05, suggesting no statistically significant differences under the stated threshold. Overall, commonly consumed beverages-particularly coffee-can meaningfully compromise composite color stability over time, and the lower discoloration observed for nano-hybrid resin supports its preferential use when staining exposure is anticipated, alongside patient counseling on dietary staining risks to preserve restoration aesthetics.
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BibTeX
@article{albahoth2026illuminating,
title = {{Illuminating the Spectrum: A Spectrophotometric Exploration of Beverage Effects on Hybrid and Nano-Hybrid Resin Composites: An In Vitro Study}},
author = {Ahmad Albahoth and Abdulhakeem A Almutairi and Sabahat Ullah Khan Tareen and Shahzad Ali shah and Abdulaziz Waleed Alhazmi and Feras a Alajlan and Kadi S Alharbi},
journal = {Cureus},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.7759/cureus.116944},
url = {https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.116944},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Illuminating the Spectrum: A Spectrophotometric Exploration of Beverage Effects on Hybrid and Nano-Hybrid Resin Composites: An In Vitro Study
AU - Ahmad Albahoth
AU - Abdulhakeem A Almutairi
AU - Sabahat Ullah Khan Tareen
AU - Shahzad Ali shah
AU - Abdulaziz Waleed Alhazmi
AU - Feras a Alajlan
AU - Kadi S Alharbi
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/25
JO - Cureus
DO - 10.7759/cureus.116944
UR - https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.116944
AB - Resin composite restorations are widely used for their aesthetics and mechanical durability, yet their clinical longevity is often limited by discoloration and surface degradation caused by dietary chromogens and acidic beverages. This in vitro study aimed to evaluate and compare the color stability of a universal hybrid composite (Filtek Z250) and a nano-hybrid composite (Filtek Z350) after exposure to tea, coffee, and pomegranate juice, using distilled water as a control, quantified by spectrophotometry. Eighty standardized composite discs (10 mm × 2 mm) were fabricated (n=40/material), LED-cured per manufacturer instructions, and polished using a uniform multi-step protocol. Specimens were immersed individually in 10 mL of the assigned liquid and stored at 37°C and 100% relative humidity, with color measured at baseline and after one, seven, and 30 days using CIELAB parameters; color change was calculated as ΔE, and each specimen was measured three times to enhance reliability. Mean ΔE values increased with immersion time for both materials in all beverages, indicating time-dependent discoloration. Coffee produced the greatest staining (hybrid: one day 1.25, seven days 2.70, 30 days 4.70; nano-hybrid: 1.10, 2.10, 3.90), followed by tea (hybrid: 1.10, 2.50, 4.00; nano-hybrid: 0.95, 1.90, 3.20) and pomegranate juice (hybrid: 0.90, 1.80, 3.50; nano-hybrid: 0.85, 1.50, 3.00), whereas distilled water caused minimal change (hybrid: 0.20-0.40; nano-hybrid: 0.15-0.34). Across beverages and time points, the hybrid composite consistently showed higher ΔE than the nano-hybrid composite; however, the reported paired t-test p-values exceeded 0.05, suggesting no statistically significant differences under the stated threshold. Overall, commonly consumed beverages-particularly coffee-can meaningfully compromise composite color stability over time, and the lower discoloration observed for nano-hybrid resin supports its preferential use when staining exposure is anticipated, alongside patient counseling on dietary staining risks to preserve restoration aesthetics.
SN - 2168-8184
ER -