Improving the Properties of Dental Porcelain Luminescence Using Silicon Carbide

Abstract

An ideal dental restorative should have the same light reflection, diffusion, and fluorescence properties as a natural tooth. Natural teeth always emit intense blue fluorescence under ultraviolet light, making the teeth look whiter and brighter in daylight. One of the limitations in trying to simulate restorative materials is the unique structure of natural teeth. This study aimed to simulate dental tubules and investigate the effect of different porosity percentages on dental porcelain luminescence properties. In this laboratory study, a control sample (without silicon carbide) and three dental porcelain samples with different percentages of porosity were prepared by adding 1, 2, 3% silicon carbide luminescence intensity was examined by spectrophotometer and compared with natural teeth. An increase in luminescence properties was observed with increasing porosity. The highest light intensity was observed in the sample’s porosity with 3% silicon carbide. The lowest intensity was observed in the porosity of the sample with 1%. Creating porosity in dental porcelain reduces refraction, collision, and light reflection. Therefore such specimens will be brighter and more transparent when exposed to ultraviolet light.