• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.409-419
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• 2008

Statement of problem: At all times people have tried to fabricate tooth restorations using tooth colored materials. Recently, demands for esthetics, even in restorations requiring strength, has brought a revolution to dentistry and increased use of zirconia. The basic color of zirconia is white to ivory. The color can be partially adapted by veneering it with ceramic materials. However, it would be better if the substructure could already be adapted to the basic color shade of neighboring teeth. By adaptation to the basic shade, it can help to reduce the necessary layer thickness of the veneer ceramic to achieve the desired color. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to spectrophotometrically evaluate the influence of shading of zirconia core on the final shade of all-ceramic restorations using the CIE $L^{*}a^{*}b^{*}$ system. Material and methods: Core specimens (n = 20 per group) of Lava Frame Zirconia, KaVo Everest Zirconia, Digident CAD/CAM Zirconia were fabricated at 20 mm in diameter and 0.5 mm in thickness. Halves of each groups were shaded in A3 color. These core specimens were veneered with A3 porcelain of the recommended manufacturer at thickness of 0.5 mm. CIE $L^{*}a^{*}b^{*}$ coordinates were recorded for each specimen with a spectrophotometer (Model CM-2600d, Minolta, Japan) at 0.5 mm, 0.4 mm, 0.3 mm in thickness. Color differences were calculated using the equation ${\Delta}E^{*}=[({\Delta}L^{*})2+({\Delta}a^{*})2+({\Delta}b^{*})2]1/2$. Results: 1. In the case where porcelain layer has a thickness of 0.5 mm, Lava Frame Zirconia and KaVo Everest group did not show clinically perceived color difference, however Digident CAD/CAM Zirconia group showed clinically perceived color difference according to shade allowed on core. 2. When the thickness of porcelain layer decreased from 0.5 mm to 0.4 mm, Lava Frame Zirconia and KaVo Everest group did not show clinically perceived color difference, on the other hand Digident CAD/CAM Zirconia group showed clinically perceived color difference according to shade allowed on core. 3. When the thickness of porcelain layer decreased from 0.5 mm to 0.3 mm, clinically perceived color differences were observed from all three groups. Conclusions: Ziroconia system, which is possible to allow shade on core, are thought to be much more favorable to reproduce natural shade compared to systems that is impossible to give shade. Therefore, clinicians ought to choose adequate system for certain clinical situation by considering above specific character.