Shade selection in esthetic dentistry

Abstract

For dentists, selecting the exact tooth color is a complex task when restoring the natural appearance of teeth. Several factors can affect the determination of shade, such as the lighting conditions, the teeth’s condition, the viewing angle, the background, eye fatigue, color vision impairments, and medication use. Thus, it is crucial to have complete knowledge about different shades and criteria for their selection to achieve the best results. In order to attain optimal esthetics, four critical elements are necessary: precise position, shape, surface texture and shade. This article focuses on various aspects of color and shade, the optical properties of teeth, the factors that contribute to shade determination, and the visual and instrumental methods used for shade matching.