Prevalence of Color Vision Deficiency among Dental Practitioners and its Effect on Shade Matching Ability

Abstract

Objective: Shade selection is a crucial step in achieving aesthetically-pleasing restorations, and it is affected by the dentist’s ability to match the shade of the patient’s teeth. Color Deficiency Disease (CVD) has been thought to be a potential factor affecting color perception. The study aims to find the prevalence of CVD between dentists and dental students and to evaluate its effect on shade matching ability. Methods: A sample of 319 dentists and dental students in the College of Dentistry at Ajman University, Ajman, UAE was examined with the Ishihara test to find the prevalence of CVD. Then participants with CVD were tested for shade matching ability, and were compared to participants with normal color vision with the same gender and qualification level. They were asked to match 10 random composite samples with different shades to a custom shade guide made from the same composite material. A score was calculated, representing the number of correct answers they achieved. Results: The results showed that 8 out of 143 males (5.6%) had CVD, and 0 out of 176 females had CVD. There was no significant difference in the score of shade matching test between participants with CVD and participants with normal color vision (p=0.075). Conclusion: Males showed a higher prevalence of color vision deficiency than females. CVD had no significant effect on shade matching ability.

An Overview of Shade Selection in Clinical Dentistry

“…Trichromatism: Sensitivity to all three hues with abnormality or deficiency in one of the three primary pigments or colors in the retinal cones [57].…”

“…Compromised visual sensitivity occurs due to local, general or mental fatigues. Succeeding shade selection (managing several patients necessitating shade evaluation during a single day of work) can be a main reason for fatigue [57].…”

Shade selection in esthetic dentistry

“…Shade comparison should be made quickly to avoid the potential for eye fatigue in the clinician which can cause similar colors to look the same, so short glances of 2-3 seconds with periods of rest, instead of prolonged stares, are recommended and trials should be limited to 5 to 7 seconds at a time. 22…”

“…Color blindness is a condition in which the individual has difficulty perceiving certain colors and distinguishing between them. 22,23 This condition can be classified as-1. Achromatism: Complete absence of hue sensitivity leads to inability to perceive any of the color.…”