Effect of Ceramic Thickness and Cement Color on Final Shade of All Ceramic Restorations: A Systematic Review

One important aspect of dental restorations is esthetic. Although ceramic restorations are usually undertaken for esthetic reasons, several factors can affect their results. This study was undertaken to systematically review articles addressing the effect of ceramic thickness and luting cement color on the final restoration color. This systematic review was based on PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) guidelines. The study question was determined according to PICO (population, intervention, comparison and outcome). The issue under study was the effect of ceramic thickness and cement shade on the final color of ceramic crowns or veneers. A literature search was done in the PubMed and Medline databases using relevant keywords for the period from 2006 to 2016 and was limited to articles in the English language. The articles were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and were evaluated qualitatively. The internet search resulted in 109 articles. Following application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, 17 studies were included in the systematic review. IPS Empress was the most assessed ceramic. It was found that the effect of ceramic thickness and cement shade on restoration color differed among studies because of the use of different ceramics and cements. This review showed that the thickness of the ceramic and the cement shade can affect the optical properties and color of all-ceramic restorations. Several factors influence the effect of the ceramic thickness and cement shade on restoration color.