Fluorescence comparison of dental structure and composite resins

Objectives: The purpose in this study was to compare the fluorescence between dental structures (enamel and dentin) and three composite resins using a digital image. Methods: Three composite resins (Esthet-X, Dentsply; Filtek Z-350, 3M/ESPE and 4-Seasons, Ivoclar Vivadent), enamel and dentin shade A2, and three sound human teeth were used. A sagittal slice of 2mm width was obtained from each tooth, removing the palatal enamel and dentin. The slice was positioned in a stainless steel matrix to fill the enamel and dentin with the correspondent resin composite. The space restored with the composite resin was 10X10X2mm. Three teeth for each resin composite were used. An ultraviolet LED source was applied directly to the specimen in a dark room. Fluorescence of enamel resin, enamel, dentin and dentin resin were measured with digital images processed through a computer program developed by So Carlos Physics Institute-Optical Group, USP - Brazil. The computer program rates in pixels the fl...