Abstract
BACKGROUND: Adequate polymerization of composite resin restorations is critical for their mechanical performance and long-term clinical success. Salivary contamination during light curing can interfere with polymerization and may influence color stability. OBJECTIVE: This in vitro study examined how artificial saliva contamination at specific intervals during light curing affects the DC (degree of conversion) and short-term color change or ΔE (Delta E) of two composite resins-Gradia Direct (microhybrid) and N-Ceram Bulk Fill (nanohybrid). METHODS: One hundred eighty disk specimens (n = 90 per composite) were allocated into nine experimental groups differing in contamination timing and curing duration. DC was determined by FTIR-ATR (Fourier-Transform Infrared- Attenuated Total Reflectance) spectroscopy immediately after curing and following 24-h incubation at 37 °C. Color change (ΔE) was measured with a spectrophotometer using the CIE (International Commission on Illumination) Lab∗ system. Statistical analysis employed one- and two-way ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) with Tukey's post hoc test (α = 0.05). RESULTS: Early contamination (within the first 5-10 s) produced a significant reduction in DC for both materials (p < 0.001), with N-Ceram showing the greatest loss. Gradia achieved higher DC across most conditions. Post-cure incubation improved DC in all groups, most notably in N-Ceram. All ΔE values remained below the perceptibility threshold of 3.3, with no significant differences among groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Saliva exposure early in light curing markedly reduces polymerization efficiency, although extended curing and post-cure polymerization can partially restore DC. Short-term color stability appears unaffected. Strict field isolation and optimized curing protocols are essential to maximize clinical performance.