Background and Aim: Hybrid ceramics are gaining popularity for cosmetic dental restorations due to their advantageous mechanical properties and optimal esthetic results. However, the potential effects of bleaching on their color stability are still a subject of interest. This study aimed to assess the effect of bleaching on stained hybrid ceramics in comparison with IPS e.max.
Materials and Methods: This in vitro study was conducted on 48 specimens fabricated from IPS e.max CAD, Vita Enamic, and Cerasmart (n=16) ceramics. The baseline color coordinates of the specimens were measured by a spectrophotometer. Eight specimens from each ceramic type underwent accelerated aging, and their color coordinates were measured again to calculate the color change (ΔE1). The remaining 8 specimens in each ceramic group were immersed in tea solution, and their ΔE was calculated (ΔE2). Subsequently, all specimens were exposed to 20% carbamide peroxide for 8 hours/day for 10 days, and ΔE3 and ΔE4 were calculated. Data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA and Tukey’s test (alpha=0.05).
Results: Type of ceramic, type of intervention (aging, immersion in tea solution, bleaching), and their interaction significantly affected the ΔE (P=0.0001). The maximum and minimum ΔE values were recorded for Cerasmart and IPS e.max ceramic, respectively.
Conclusion: Both accelerated aging and immersion in tea solution caused staining of hybrid ceramics. The minimum ΔE after bleaching occurred in aged ceramics. Bleaching of stained ceramics improved their color.