The Concepts of Color Matching and Shade Selection in Prosthodontics

The increase in newer types of ceramic restorations and the improving quality of esthetics means the dentist of the 21st century must be trained to detect differences in color and shades in individual teeth, select a shade that reflects the color and exact shade, transmit this information to a dental technician, and then be able to make any necessary adjustments to the restoration. However,there are a number of factors that stand in the way of properly selecting a color match. Subjective faults range from differences in color perception to ocular fatigue and lack of education regarding the basic principles of color. Metamerism may occur if proper lighting is not used during shade selection in the dental office and laboratory Finally, existing shade guides are limited and require a more extensive range of shades.