Analysis of colorimetric parameters of international commission on illumination L*a*b* system in the color of maxillary central incisors

Abstract

Introduction. Tooth color can be represented in a three-dimensional color system by applying L* (lightness), a* (red-green color tone) and b* (yellow-blue color tone) coordinates. Clinically significant color difference, Delta-E, can be expressed in units that are correlated with visual perception using the International Commission on Illumination L*a*b* system. The aim of the study was spectrophotometric analysis of the natural maxillary central incisor color, and to establish any gender-related differences in lightness, red-green tone, and yellow-blue tone coordinates. Material and Methods. The study included 80 students (40 male and 40 female, with an average age of 22 years). The color of the maxillary right central incisor was determined using an intraoral spectrophotometer and VITAPAN Classical and VITA 3D-Master color shade guides. Lightness, red-green tone, and yellow-blue tone values were recorded for each result. The obtained data were processed by using ?2, Student?s t-test and Mann-Whitney test. Results. Results showed no statistically significant gender-related difference in color according to the VITApan Classical and VITA 3D-Master color key. No difference was found in the lightness of the central maxillary incisor between genders, or in terms of red-green tone (p = 0.860573). A statistically significant difference was found when observing the sex-related yellow-blue tone of the color of the central maxillary incisor. Conclusion. The analysis of colorimetric parameters of the International Commission on Illumination L*a*b* system provides useful information about the tooth color in the examined population, while potentially revealing differences in lightness, red-green tone and yellow-blue tone between genders.