[In vivo color measurement of 410 healthy maxillary anterior teeth].
OBJECTIVE
In order to measure and analyse the color characteristics of intra-oral vital teeth objectively and accurately.


METHODS
The fiber-optic spectrophotometer (FMC-9204, Kunmin, China) was used for measurements of 410 healthy maxillary anterior teeth of 70 people aged from 18 to 70 years old who lived in Kunmin, China.


RESULTS
The results were expressed by CIEL*A*B* systems. Statistical analysis showed that: L* of natural teeth is related to age positively, and the regressive equation is L* = 42.74 + 0.14 x age. Value of A* is related to age negatively, the regressive equation is A* = 1.73 - 0.03 x age. The color of the maxillary anterior teeth was also related to tooth position. The central incisor has the highest value of L*, but the canine is the darkest. Besides, the canine is redder, yellower, and more saturated.


CONCLUSIONS
These results may help to make the optic character of oral prosthetic material well matched with the natural teeth.
Zhu
J
J
College of Stomatology, West China University of Medical Sciences, Chengdu 610041.
Zhao
Y
Y
Zhu
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003116:Color; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D014070:Tooth