Comparison of Shade Matching Performance of Dental Professionals and Untrained Individuals in Visual Shade Matching Method

Abstract

Statement of the problem: It is unclear how the success of color selection with custom shade guides is influenced by the observer's level of color education and the type of light source. Objective: The aim of this study is to compare the color matching ability under different light sources between observers with and without color education and to investigate in which shade tabs they are more successful, using a custom-made shade guide. Materials & Methods: The study included 5 prosthodontists (PD), 5 general dentists (GD), 5 dental ceramists (DC), 5 removable denture technicians (RDT), and 10 participants with no color education (NP). Using dentin powder from feldspathic dental porcelain, 2 sets of 16 shade tabs matching those in the Vita Lumin Classic shade guide were produced. The Lab values of the produced shade tabs with the same shade code were measured using a colorimeter device, and those with ΔE values below 0.1 were used for shade matching. Each participant conducted a total of 48 shade matches under 3 different light sources (tungsten-TG, fluorescent-FL, and D65). Results: It was found that the shade matching success of dental professionals in the PD, GD, RDT, and DC groups significantly differed from that of the participants in the NP group (χ² = 23.417; P< 0.001). Shade matches conducted under the D65 light source were more successful than those under the TG and FL light sources, and participants were found to match shade tabs with higher saturation, such as A4 and C4, more successfully. Conclusions: Color matching performed with a custom color scale is influenced by the observer's training and the light source. As the saturation of shade tabs increases, the matching success also increases.