Clinical performance of restorations in anterior teeth using composites with two levels of translucency: split-mouth randomized clinical trial

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the clinical performance of high- and medium-translucency resin composite restorations in anterior teeth using a randomized split-mouth clinical trial design. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Participants received two class III or class IV restorations using different resin composites (n = 30). Control restorations were performed using the medium-translucency enamel shade composite (GrandioSO, Voco), along with opaque dentin shades. The experimental restorations were performed using a high-translucency enamel shade composite (Amaris, Voco), also combined with opaque dentin shades. The materials were applied in increments up to 2 mm thick. A self-etching adhesive system (Futurabond U, Voco) was used in all restorations. Calibrated examiners evaluated the restorations using the FDI criteria at 7 days, 1 year, and 2 years. Data was analyzed with the Fisher's Exact test (α=0.05). RESULTS: No significant differences between the tested materials were found for any of the FDI criteria. At 2-year recall, all restorations received acceptable scores for esthetic and biological parameters, and 96.67 % of restorations in both groups exhibited acceptable scores for functional properties. All the participants in the medium-translucency group were satisfied with aesthetics and function, while 96.76 % of participants in the high-translucency group reported complete satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Both restorative materials exhibited good clinical performance for the aesthetic, functional, and biological properties analyzed with no differences between them after 24-month follow-up. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Both medium- and high-translucency resin composites provided excellent esthetic outcomes with acceptable functional and biological properties for anterior Class III and IV restorations. REGISTRATION NUMBER: RBR-6dy4mgj.