Translucency and characteristics of newly developed polymer-based dental tooth coating material.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the translucency and color change of simulated heavily discolored teeth using polymer-based dental tooth coating materials and flowable resin composites. Five shades of coating material and two shades of flowable resin composite were used. Colorimetric values of the materials in different shades were determined using the L*a*b* system of the Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE). Colorimetric examination was performed on white, black, and shade guide (C4) backgrounds using specimens of various thickness (0.2, 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mm). New coating material showed less translucent than flowable resin composites. Moreover the new material showed the potential to improve the appearance of heavily discolored teeth when being applied as a thin first layer.