ABSTRACT This study evaluated the influence of different levels of power density on resin polymerization in the staining of composite resins. Thirty-six specimens were made with composite resin (Z350 3M ESPE) with cylindrical Teflon matrix (8 mm X 1 mm). The light curing was performed with different degrees of power density for each group (n=12): 300mW/cm², 700mW/cm² e 1000mW/cm². Afterwards, the specimens had their color checked, with the help of a spectrophotometer and immersed in coffee solution during 7 days. After, a new measuring was done (CIEL*a*b* color system). Results showed, for Δa, only G1000 group obtained a significantly lower value, and the same result was found in the evaluation of Δb. For ΔE and ΔL, no significant differences were found between groups. It is concluded that, low and medium power density entails more reddish and bluish composite resin, while the specimens submitted to high power density and then immersed in coffee did not present color change in a short term.

Direct composite resin restorations have become a viable alternative for patients that require anterior restorative procedures to be integrated to the other teeth that compose the smile, especially for presenting satisfactory esthetic results and minimum wear of the dental structure. Technological evolution along with a better understanding of the behavior of dental tissues to light incidence has allowed the development of new composite resins with better mechanical and optical properties, making possible a more artistic approach for anterior restorations. The combination of the increasing demand of patients for esthetics and the capacity to preserve the dental structure resulted in the development of different incremental techniques for restoring fractured anterior teeth in a natural way. In order to achieve esthetic excellence, dentists should understand and apply artistic and scientific principles when choosing color of restorative materials, as well as during the insertion of the composite resin. The discussion of these strategies will be divided into two papers. In this paper, the criteria for color and material selection to obtain a natural reproduction of the lost dental structures and an imperceptible restoration will be addressed.