What does “Dental shade guide” mean?
A shade guide is a tool that collects several color swatches to compare the color of teeth and prosthetics. Used when the color name or number is shared between the clinic and laboratory.
What are you comparing?
Brightness, hue, and color intensity are compared with a shade tab beside the tooth. Color and translucency vary across a tooth, so one shade number cannot capture every feature.
Why are light and moisture important?
Lighting or strong surrounding colors affect color judgment. Even teeth that have been dry for a long time may appear different from their usual color, so we adjust the observation conditions and record the necessary photos.
Is the color confirmed once I select a sample?
The selected shade is a reference for fabrication. The final restoration is also affected by its material and thickness and the underlying tooth color, so harmony with neighboring teeth is checked at the final try-in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all materials the same if they have the same color number?
A shade number is a comparison reference; it does not mean different materials have the same translucency or surface properties. The shade system and material used for fabrication must also be communicated.
Is it possible to determine the color just from a cell phone photo?
Lighting and camera settings can alter color. Photographs support shade recording when a shade tab is photographed under the same conditions.
Questions needed to understand the shade guide
Learn what the term means and how it relates to your dental condition.
- Sufficient understanding
Which part of the tooth does the color match?
Explanation and evidenceBy separately recording the difference between the cervical region and the middle/end region, features that cannot be contained in a single number can be conveyed.
Dentalcare Guidelines for Visual Shade Selection - A choice suited to your condition
When will I check the final color?
Explanation and evidenceAfter selecting the color for production, we try out the actual prosthesis and look at the color, transparency, and relationship with surrounding teeth.
Cleveland Clinic · Dental Crowns
