Conventional and digitally assisted shade matching – A comparative study

Abstract

AimThe purpose of this study was to compare conventional shade matching method with digitally assisted shade matching method and to evaluate observer's shade matching ability using conventional method in day light as well as studio environment and to compare it with digital. Materials and methodsThe ten observers with normal vision and color acuity participated in the study. Twenty subjects selected, satisfying exclusion and inclusion criteria of the study. Target tooth selected for study was vital right maxillary central incisor. A Vita classical shade guide was used for shade matching. Computer system, digital camera and Digital color matching software and were used for digitally assisted shade matching method. For conventional shade matching, observers performed shade selection in day light as well as in studio environment, at the same time digital images of the target tooth were made, and processed through the digital color matching software for digitally assisted. ResultsThe chi-square analysis showed that the observer's matching ability is not significantly different in either day light (P = 0.164) or in studio environment (P = 0.300). Overall correct matching ability of ten observers was 58.5% and 52.5% in day light and in studio environment respectively. ConclusionsWithin the limitations of current study a new computer matching method was proposed and found to be superior to the conventional shade matching method. Large variation in observer's ability in conventional shade matching was also found.