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Recent advances in shade-matching technology
Click here to learn about the book Esthetic Color Training in
Dentistry.
Many dentists will tell you that they feel
that the most difficult esthetic procedure is a single crown on one
central incisor. Many will recommend to patients that they crown both
centrals in order to get them to match. It's frustrating, because there
are many beautiful ceramic materials that can create a wonderfully
natural-looking tooth. But they all require shade-matching, and there is
where the procedure breaks down.
One effective technique for shade matching
is to use photography. Using a high-quality digital camera that captures
color-correct images, a shade tab with the shade that is closest to the
shade of the tooth is placed next to the tooth in question and is
photographed with the tooth. If needed, several photographs can be taken
with different shade tabs. The image can then be e-mailed to the lab,
where the technician can compare the shade of the tooth, with its
characterizations, to the shade of the tab. If needed, the tab in the
photograph can be custom stained. The custom tab is then wrapped carefully
and sent with the case to the lab. This is a very effective method of
pinning down an exact shade match for the crown.
Dr. Edward Walk, AACD accredited cosmetic
dentist from Newton, Massachusetts, developed a technique of taking
several photographs of the tooth or teeth with a shade guide, each at a
different light setting. You can then provide these photographs to the
laboratory who can determine the shade match and the translucency by
extrapolating from the photos.
There are some new devices, however, that
don't require photographs. They either use spectrophotometry or
colorimetry to measure the color. Read up on these terms if you wish.
There are various reasons proposed for favoring one method over the other.
All but one of these systems use a handheld device placed on or just in
front of the tooth in question. A shield is used to block out surrounding
light and for infection control. Some systems will make a color map of the
entire tooth and the screen will display an image of the tooth, similar to
what a digital camera does. The other units will analyze a spot or spots
on the tooth and then give numeric information that represents specific
porcelain shades.
One shade matching system that isn't used
chairside and doesn't use a handheld
device is Clear Match. Clear Match is nothing more than computer software that interprets standard
digital photographs of the teeth. This software will take the photograph
and generate a shade that corresponds to a standard shade guide such as
Vitapan 3D-Master. It will also generate hue, value, and chroma for each
area of the tooth.
The units listed below all consist of
handheld devices that read the shades directly from the tooth rather than
from a digital photograph. Some may feel that this method is more
reliable. They will likewise generate a shade match corresponding to a
standard shade guide along with a formula for variations from the standard
shade tab.
Once you've taken the shade, you can relay this information to the lab by print-out,
disk, or e-mail. If you send an electronic file rather than a shade match
print-out, your lab needs to have
the appropriate software that will interpret the data. Or, if the lab
wanted to be really precise, they would use the same unit as the dentist
did and then take an electronic shade of the crown before sending it to the dentist. This is what ShadeVision's manufacturer, X-Rite, calls the
"virtual try-in."
Another approach is for the lab to purchase
a unit and lend it to a dentist for use in certain critical cases. Once
the dentist sees what the unit can do, he or she may want to purchase one
of their own. Or the dentist can lend the unit to the lab.
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| ShadeEye NCC by Shofu
The ShadeEye NCC Dental Chroma
Meter generates a complete recipe to match the shade for a porcelain
crown. It will accommodate several shade guide systems, including
its proprietary Shofu Vintage Halo porcelain system, classic Vita
shades, Vitapan 3D-Master, Chromascop, or Biodent. The base unit can
generate a printout, or can download it to a personal computer.
On the computer you can use the Shade Eye Viewer software to record all the patient's shade information
which can then be e-mailed to the laboratory along with digital
photographs of the teeth. For more information, call (800) 82-SHOFU
or visit www.shofu.com.
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| ShadeScan™ by Cynovad
ShadeScan™ measures shades over the
entire tooth surface, then analyzes them and generate a shade match
report. It likewise can generate a report to be used with any
standard shade guide system. ShadeScan™ creates an image of the
tooth with a translucency and characterization map, and then will
generate a printed report.
Besides using ShadeScan™
for crowns and bridges, the manufacturers suggest using it also for direct restorations
and to monitor bleaching treatment. For more information call (866) CYNOVAD or visit www.cynovad.com. |
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| ShadeVision System by X-Rite
The ShadeVision unit uses advanced colorimetry to scientifically
determine the hue, value and chroma of the teeth. The ShadeVision
unit will capture an image of the tooth and upload it to a personal
computer for processing. Shade information can then be sent to the
dental laboratory via e-mail, disk, or by printout. If the shade
match information is sent by electronic file, the laboratory should
have the proper software to interpret the data.
Its manufacturers claim that the ShadeVision system will improve
your productivity, reduce chair time and remakes, and improve
patient satisfaction. For more information, call (866) 61-SHADE or
visit www.shadevision.com.
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| VITA Easyshade by Vident
The VITA Easyshade unit consists of a
handpiece that contains multiple spectrophotometers and can be
covered with a transparent infection-control sleeve. The Easyshade
probe feeds information to a touch-screen readout which then
provides a prescription in both Vitapan 3D-Master and classic VITA
shades. It will highlight the closest shade match in both of these
shade guides.
For more information, call 800-828-3839 or visit
www.vident.com. |
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