To evaluate the effect of blocker on color matching of different shaded composite systems on natural teeth, 120 anterior teeth were divided into two groups as light and dark shades (n = 60). Round cavities (7 mm in diameter; 2 mm in depth) were prepared on labial surfaces of the teeth. They were restored using three types of resin composites: multi-shaded (Estelite Sigma Quick, Tokuyama Dental, Japan), single-shaded (Omnichroma, Tokuyama Dental, Japan) and group-shaded (Neo Spectra ST, Dentsply Sirona, Germany) (n = 20). Blocker (Omnichroma) was applied to half of the samples in each group (n = 10). Color matching of the restorations with the surrounding tissues were evaluated either by visual analysis or an instrumental method. The resin composites tested did not yield acceptable results instrumentally. Using blocker with single-shade resin composite on dark-colored teeth yielded a minimal change in color in 2 mm deep cavities in the visual evaluation by dentists. Similarly, applying blocker with group-shaded and multi-shaded resin composite on light-colored teeth caused minimal change in color of 2 mm deep cavities in the visual evaluation by dentists. As the application of blocker had no effect on the color matching of different shaded resin composites in the visual evaluations by all observers, except by dentists, blocker may be used as a dentin shade in 2 mm deep cavities of anterior teeth.
Keywords: blocker; color; color matching; composite resin.