Evaluation of Color Stability and Micro-Hardness of New Composite Materials after Exposure to Different Beverages

This study evaluated the color stability and microhardness of four resin composite materials after 30 days of immersion in red wine, tea, and coffee. Four materials were tested: G-aenial ACHORD (GC), Venus Pearl (Kulzer), Filtek Universal (3M), and Clearfil Majesty ES-2 (Kuraray). A total of 120 disc-shaped specimens (30 per material) were fabricated and exposed to the staining agents. Color stability was assessed using ΔE, calculated from CIE Lab values (L, a, b), and microhardness was measured using a Vickers microhardness tester. Descriptive statistics (mean ± sd) were calculated for each group. A one-way ANOVA was performed to assess significant differences in color change (ΔE) and microhardness between groups at T0 and T1. Post hoc Tukey’s HSD test was used to identify specific group differences, with a significance level set at p < 0.05.bResults showed that red wine caused the most significant discoloration (highest ΔE), with significant differences between solutions (p < 0.05). Filtek Universal exhibited the highest ΔE values in both tea (ΔE = 14.46 ± 0.24) and coffee (ΔE = 14.11 ± 1.13), and the most pronounced discoloration in red wine compared to the other materials (p < 0.05). Clearfil Majesty ES-2 showed the lowest microhardness values in wine (Vickers hardness = 45.2 ± 2.3) and tea (Vickers hardness = 48.4 ± 3.1), while Venus Pearl  exhibited the highest microhardness values (Vickers hardness = 54.8 ± 4.0 and 55.2 ± 3.8, respectively).

These findings indicate that Material C is more prone to color change, particularly in staining agents like wine, while Materials B and C demonstrate superior wear resistance. This study provides valuable insights for clinicians selecting composite materials based on aesthetic longevity and mechanical durability.