Color stability of laboratory glass-fiber-reinforced plastics for esthetic orthodontic wires

Inami, Toshihiro; Tanimoto, Yasuhiro; Minami, Naomi; Yamaguchi, Masaru; Kasai, Kazutaka

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
In our previous study, glass-fiber-reinforced plastics (GFRPs) made from polycarbonate and glass fibers were prepared for esthetic orthodontic wires using pultrusion. These laboratory GFRP wires are more transparent than the commercially available nickel-titanium wire; however, an investigation of the color stability of GFRP during orthodontic treatment is needed. Accordingly, in the present study, the color stability of GFRP was assessed using colorimetry.
METHODS
Preparation of GFRP esthetic round wires (diameter: 0.45 mm [0.018 inch]) using pultrusion was described previously. Here, to investigate how the diameter of fiber reinforcement affects color stability, GFRPs were prepared by incorporating either 13-microm (GFRP-13) or 7-microm glass (GFRP-7) fibers. The color changes of GFRPs after 24 h, and following 1, 2, and 4 weeks of coffee immersion at 37degrees C, were measured by colorimetry. We evaluated the color stability of GFRPs by two evaluating units: the color difference (DeltaE*) and National Bureau of Standards (NBS).
RESULTS
After immersion, both GFRPs showed almost no visible color change. According to the colorimetry measurements, the DeltaE* values of GFRP-13 and GFRP-7 were 0.73-1.16, and 0.62-1.10, respectively. In accordance with NBS units, both GFRPs showed "slight" color changes. As a result, there were no significant differences in the DeltaE* values or NBS units for GFRP-13 or GFRP-7. Moreover, for both GFRPs, no significant differences were observed in any of the immersion periods.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that the GFRPs will maintain high color stability during orthodontic treatment, and are an attractive prospect as esthetic orthodontic wires.