What does “Shade guide” mean?
A shade guide is a tooth color sample that compares the color of your natural teeth and restorations. It is used to select colors, record them, and share them with the dentist and during the fabrication process.
What the color numbers tell you
Tooth color is influenced by value (brightness), hue, and chroma (color intensity), as well as translucency and surface texture. A shade code helps communicate these characteristics; it does not capture every optical property in one number. A shade guide is the comparison tool, while shade selection is the process of using it and other information to choose a color.
Even within a single tooth, the part near the gums and the tip have different appearances. If necessary, the characteristics of each part are recorded and reflected in production.
Comparison conditions matter
The color may look different depending on the lighting, surrounding color, and the degree of dryness of the teeth. Rather than confirming the final color based solely on cell phone photos or the color on your screen, we compare it to your actual teeth in the doctor's office.
If the color guide system is different, even the same symbol may not correspond directly. It's helpful to write down the type of guide you use and your target color.
If you plan whitening and restoration together
If you plan to whiten your natural teeth, we will also discuss when to choose the color of your restoration. Existing crowns or resins do not undergo the same color change due to whitening, so their harmony with surrounding teeth is evaluated separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
If the color number is the same, are all materials the same color?
The visible color may vary depending on the guide system, material, thickness, and background tooth color. You need to distinguish between a number and what it actually looks like in your mouth.
Can I choose the color I want using a photo on my cell phone?
It helps communicate preferences, but color will vary depending on lighting, camera, and screen. A process of comparing the actual shade guide with surrounding teeth is required.
If I choose the lightest color, will it look natural?
In addition to brightness, we look at the color, translucency, and surface texture of surrounding teeth and the harmony within the face. Be specific about the impression you want and confirm it with actual comparative data.
Three things to check before consultation with shade guide
Please review the questions to ask before deciding on treatment and the treatment standards of TU Dental Clinic.
- Sufficient understanding
Does the clinic explain the difference between the color number and the actual material?
TU Dental Clinic’s treatment standardsAt TU Dental Clinic, we confirm the desired brightness during a consultation and check the actual color and harmony with surrounding teeth before attaching the completed restoration.
Criteria for choosing a color that harmonizes with surrounding teeth - A choice suited to your condition
Does the clinic compare the shade with adjacent teeth under consistent lighting conditions?
TU Dental Clinic’s treatment standardsTU Dental Clinic considers the brightness and hue of adjacent teeth along with the desired change in brightness. At the try-in before bonding, the actual color, translucency, and harmony with surrounding teeth are checked.
Criteria for choosing a color that harmonizes with surrounding teeth - Sufficient understanding
Is there a chance to check the color again before final attachment?
TU Dental Clinic’s treatment standardsTU Dental Clinic explains the different roles of the screen design, temporary preview, and final try-in. It also explains that temporary materials do not exactly reproduce the translucency and texture of the final ceramic.
What to check in simulation, smile preview, and try-in
