A practical, predictable, and reliable method to select shades for direct resin composite restorations.

Abstract

This article describes a practical, predictable, and reliable method to select shades for direct composite restorations using custom shade guides made of resin composite at hand using a process of elimination CLINICAL CONSIDERATIONS: Esthetics in direct resin composite restorations depends on the clinician's ability to reproduce the shape and shade of natural teeth, thus appropriate shade selection is a must. This method presented in this article simplifies the process of shade selection for direct resin composite restorations. The use of custom shades tabs made of commecially available resin composites, its arrangment and a process of elimination of tabs during shade selection allows the practitioner to obtain the best possible resin composite shade available for every case. The use of custom shade guide tabs and an elimination protocol facilitates and expedites the process of shade selection for direct resin composites CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The article presents a practical, predictable, and reliable method to select shades for direct resin composite restorations for daily practice.