Objective: To evaluate the effect of the shade and thickenss of luting agent on the final color of different thickness Solidex resin in vitro.
Methods: Five specimens of Solidex resin were fabricated at thickness of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 mm. The pieces of Ni-Cr alloy, two shade composite resin and opaque porcelain veneered Ni-Cr alloy were used as backgrounds. The CIE L*a*b* values of specimens were measured by a colorimeter (ShadeEye NCC) to determine the colorimetric difference, when different thickness of specimens were overlaid the different shade and thickness of luting agent at the same backgrounds.
Results: The final color difference of specimens was significantly influenced by the factors of luting agent and the interaction of specimens thickness, backgrounds and luting agent(P< 0.001). Regarding the thickness of luting agent, A3 shade luting agents produced clinically unacceptable difference (deltaE*>2) in the final color of Solidex specimens at the thickness of 0.5 mm. Regarding the shade of luting agent, the color difference was more than 2 when the Solidex specimens at the thickness of 0.5 mm or 1.0 mm were against the 0.2 mm thick luting agent.
Conclusion: The final color of thinner Solidex specimens was significant affected by the change of the shade and thick of luting agent.