Modification of Luminescence Characteristics of Porcelain by Using Silicon Carbide

Ideal restorative esthetic dental materials should have similar properties of light reflection, scattering, and fluorescence as those of natural teeth. Natural teeth emit a strong blue fluorescence when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light, which makes natural teeth seem whiter and brighter in daylight. The unique structure of natural teeth is the most important constraint for simulation of restorative materials. The purpose of this study was to simulate dentinal tubule and evaluate the effect of different percentages of porosity on the luminescence properties of dental porcelain.
In this in vitro study, we prepared a control sample (without silicon carbide) and three dental porcelain samples with different percentages of porosity by adding 0, 1, 2 and 3% silicon carbide (SiC). Their luminescence intensities were measured by spectrophotometer and compared with that of natural tooth.
With the increase of porosity, the luminescence property improved. The maximum luminescence intensity was observed in the samples with 3% SiC, while the lowest intensity was found in the 1% sample.
Porosity within dental porcelains reduces refraction and reflection, and therefore, such samples under exposure to UV light show higher luminescence intensity.