OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the influence of preheating and water storage on color, whiteness, and translucency of one-shaded, group-shaded, and multi-shaded resin-based composites. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 270 samples were fabricated from one-shaded (Omnichroma), group-shaded (Optishade MD), and multi-shaded (Enamel Plus HRI) resin-based composites and divided into six groups: no heating (control) and 1-5 heatings (test) (n = 15). The CIE L*, a*, b*, C*, and h° color coordinates were registered over white, black, and gray backgrounds with a spectrophotometer before and after 24, 72, 144 h water storage. Kruskal-Wallis test was used to evaluate differences in the color coordinates, whiteness index, and translucency parameter (α = 0.05). The Mann-Whitney U test was performed with a Bonferroni correction (p <
0.001) for pairwise comparisons. CIEDE2000 color, whiteness, and translucency differences between groups and subgroups were evaluated using their respective 50%:50% perceptibility and acceptability thresholds. RESULTS: Preheating influenced color coordinates, whiteness index, and relative translucency parameters (p <
0.001). Although color differences were below the acceptability threshold for all materials, translucency differences were above the acceptability threshold for Omnichroma. Water storage significantly influenced the whiteness index of Optishade MD (p <
0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Preheating had a more considerable effect on the color, whiteness, and translucency of one-shaded resin-based composite, while water storage influenced group-shaded resin-based composite more importantly. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Preheating influences the color, whiteness level, and translucency of the resin-based composites, but the variations remain generally clinically acceptable
however, practitioners should be aware that the modifications in translucency for one-shaded resin-based composites could be more important than for group-shaded and multi-shaded resin-based composites.