The Influence of Different Factors on Shade-Taking Accuracy Using Digital Shade Guide

Despite developments in dental shade selection methods, shade selection is still a challenge affecting aesthetic outcomes. Accurate color evaluation is an important factor in dental restoration procedures. An accurate determination of tooth color is crucial for obtaining a definitive result.

This study aimed to evaluate the factors affecting the shade-taking accuracy of digital shade-taking devices. The objective was to evaluate the effect of distance, contact angle, moisture condition, and surrounding light on the shade-taking accuracy of two digital shade-taking devices.

Bovine teeth were used and thawed in running tap water. The soft tissue remnants are cleansed using a scalpel and polished using 1500 SiC. The shade and color parameters ∆E were recorded at different distances, angles, moisture, and surrounding light.

One-way ANOVA showed a statistically significant color shifting at 2mm and 3mm measuring distance for both devices (p<0.05). A contact angulation of 15⁰, 30⁰, and 45⁰ significantly shifted the color measurement by both devices(p<0.05). In the case of moisture, both devices showed color shifting in certain conditions, however, VITA5 was less affected by the moisture. In the case of surrounding lightness, adding dental unit light significantly shifted the color parameter for VITA5 (p= 0.004), however, it was statistically insignificant for VITA4 (p=0.537)

The distance, angulation, moisture, and surrounding light can affect the shade-taking accuracy of the digital shade guide. The clinician must maintain a standard condition to accurately take shade using a digital shade guide.