Examination of natural tooth color distribution using visual and instrumental shade selection methods

Abstract

Aim:Although visual color determination is the most frequently applied method in dentistry, instrumental color analysis offers advantages like objectivity, measurability and rapidity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the natural teeth color in teeth without any restoration visually, and by using a computerized shade measuring and analyzing system in the population.Materials and Methods: 202 patients were inspected. Before instru mental shade matching visual matching was done by the inspector with Vitapan 3D Master Shade Guide in the day light. Images were taken with computerized shade measuring and analyzing system from patients' natural right or left maxillary incisors and canines without any restoration. Then these images were evaluated by the original software of its own.Results: Value differences between visual and instrumental shade matching were statistically significant. Darker value levels were obtained with instrumental measurement. The distribution of hue was more reddish in instrumental examination than visual examination. Significant difference was found at cervical and middle third of the tooth in both visual and instrumental determination of chroma. Chroma of the tooth was higher at these two regions in visual assessment.Conclusions: Teeth colors were distributed more uniform in visual shade matching compared to instrumental matching. However, some teeth shades were more common in instrumental matching. Value scores were found higher with instrumental shade matching. Individual selection of shades for each tooth and different regions of a tooth instead of a single color is considered to be a factor to increase the success of the restoration.

Evaluation of patient satisfaction and shade matching of Vita Suprinity versus lithium disilicate (E-max) ceramic crowns in the esthetic zone: a randomized controlled clinical trial

“…In dentistry, accurate and predictable shade matching between natural teeth and restorative materials represents a challenge for clinicians and laboratory technicians. For decades, visual shade matching was most commonly used for the shade selection in the dental clinics as it is easy and does not require expensive equipment 1,2 . Several studies reported that the color of the shade tabs is uniformly distributed and the shade guide enables accurate shade matching with the natural teeth 3,4 .…”

Correlation and multiple regression analysis of the central incisors and gingival color relationship.

“…As proven by several studies, [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28] the spectrophotometer used in the present study was found to be consistent and more objective than the visual shade guides and helped eliminate the effect of different light sources and inter examiner bias.…”

“…14,16,19 Several color space systems are available to describe color, with the Munsell and CIE systems being the most widely used, the Munsell system describes color in three dimension using three coordinates, the hue, value, and chroma, on the other hand, the CIE system uses three coordinates, L* a* b*, to describe color where L* is the lightness axis from black to white, a* is the red-green axis, b* is the yellow-blue axis, and ΔE is the color difference value that represents the color perception; only ΔE values between 1 and 2 are considered clinically acceptable, whereas values above or less than these would implicate a high degree of intra-and interexaminer variability, and render the use of digital shade matching devices more useful to minimize the subjectivity of color assessment. [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29] Gingival color was found to be related to gender, age, and skin color of different ethnic origins, however, very little data exists regarding the color relation between the gingiva and the teeth. [30][31][32][33] Different gingival colors and pigmentations, and inadequacy of available gingival visual shade guides further complicate the situation and hinder the clinician from further investigations into pink esthetics.…”

Validation of a Hyperspectral Imaging System for Color Measurement of In-Vivo Dental Structures

“…Moreover, since the thickness of the layers is not constant along the entire tooth structure, but it varies according to the different tooth areas [7], it creates a color variation (gradient) along the different axis of the natural dental structures. These color variations within dental structures [8][9][10][11] are very difficult to measure with conventional devices used in clinical scenarios, which usually determine color by single spot measurements or large integrating measuring areas.…”