Color stability evaluation of aesthetic restorative materials

color match is one of the most important characteristics of aesthetic restorative materials. maintenance of color throughout the functional lifetime of restorations is important for the durability of treatment. this characteristic is not constant among dental materials. the purpose of this research was to assess the color stability of five aesthetic restorative materials when immersed in a coffee solution. seventy-one 17 mm x 1 mm specimens, divided into five groups, were made using one direct composite resin (tetric ceram？, ivoclar/vivadent - g1), three indirect composite resins (targis, ivoclar/vivadent - g2; resilab master, wilcos - g3; belleglasstm hp, kerr - g4) and one porcelain (ips empress？ 2, ivoclar/vivadent - g5). the specimens were immersed in a coffee staining media for 15 days and stored under a controlled temperature of 37°c ± 1°c in the dark. the evaluations were made after 1, 7 and 15 days by means of reflectance spectrophotometry. the data was submitted to two-way anova (p < 0.005) and post hoc tests. statistical difference was observed between g1 / g3 and the other groups; g2 / g4 and the other groups; and g5 and all the other groups. it was concluded that g1 and g3 showed significantly higher discoloration than the other groups. g2 and g4 showed intermediary pigmentation, while g5 showed the smallest changes.