Effect of Common Children's Beverages on Surface Properties of Single-Shade Restorative Material: An in vitro Study

Background Single-shade composite restorations can adapt to the tooth structure, improve aesthetics, and reduce reliance on shade selection. To assess the effect of four different children's beverages on the color changes, gloss, and surface microhardness of a resin composite. Methods Forty-eight specimens were prepared from each Shade A2 universal (Filtek Z250) and single shade resin composite material (Vittra APS Unique). Then, the specimens were divided into four subgroups: Distilled water (control group), cola, orange juice, and chocolate milk, all at 24°C. These specimens underwent 30 minutes of daily immersion in their respective beverages. Color changes, gloss, and microhardness values were evaluated at baseline, first, 7th, and 30th days of immersion. Results Color change was significantly higher in Vittra APS than in Filtek Z250 across all time intervals, especially in cola after 30 days. For gloss, Vittra APS and Filtek Z250 at all time periods for four storage media showed statistically significant differences. Microhardness of Vittra APS was significantly affected by all time periods and all media except water. Filtek Z250 showed significant differences across all storage media at baseline and after 1 day. Conclusion The single-shade composite showed more color change, gloss loss, and hardness reduction—especially in storage media like cola and orange —compared to the universal composite, which demonstrated greater stability and durability, emphasizing the need to choose materials with both aesthetic and mechanical resilience in clinical practice.