title: In vivo evaluation of color of primary teeth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the color of primary teeth.
  
  
  METHODS
  A Vita Easyshade intraoral spectrophotometer was used to determine the color of primary teeth: (1) maxillary central incisors, canines, and first molars; and (2) mandibular central incisors, canines, and first molars. A total of 604 teeth were measured. Color difference was compared to DeltaE*=2.7 (mean=50:50 replacement point). Coverage error (DeltaE*cov) was calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean L*a*b*C*ho values for primary teeth were 82.5, 0.2, 18.3, 18.4, and 89.4 respectively. The most frequently chosen shades were A1 (46%), A2 (25%), and B2 (11%). Canines had the highest lightness. Maxillary canines had the lowest a* values, whereas mandibular primary incisors had the highest a* values. Molars were the most chromatic (having the highest b* values), followed by canines and primary incisors in decreasing order. Coverage error (DeltaEcov*) of Vitapan Classical was 4.2 (+/-1.9 SD).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among primary teeth, the widest ranges, in order, were recorded for: (1) lightness; (2) chroma; and (3) hue. Three Vitapan Classical shades were the best match for 82% of primary teeth. Color differences among the same patient's teeth underline the need for an individual approach in color matching and reproduction of primary teeth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston, USA.
authors.forename: JaiBum
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Rade
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Paravina
authors.forename: Jung-Wei
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003116:Color / Q000592:standards*; D003124:Colorimetry; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D019228:Tooth Crown / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000033:anatomy & histology*