Evaluating factors that affect the shade-matching ability of dentists, dental staff members and laypeople.
BACKGROUND
The authors conducted a study to evaluate the influence of dentists' and nondentists' experience, age, sex, eye color and use of eyeglasses or contact lenses on tooth shade-matching ability.


METHODS
The authors included 120 participants in this study conducted in Istanbul (periodontists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, orthodontists, endodontists, pediatric dentists, prosthodontists, restorative dentists, general dentists in private practice, dental technicians, dental assistants, dental assistant students and laypeople). The authors assigned participants to one of three groups: group 1 was composed of prosthodontists, restorative dentists and dental technicians; group 2 consisted of other dental specialists and general dentists; and group 3 included dental assistants, dental assistant students and laypeople. The authors asked participants to match the shades of three artificial maxillary right central incisors (Vitapan acrylic teeth [shades 2L1.5, 1M2, 2R1.5], Vita Zahnfabrik, Bad Säckingen, Germany) by using a shade guide system (Vita Toothguide 3D-Master, Vita Zahnfabrik). They calculated shade matching for the three color components (value, hue, chroma) and analyzed the results by using a chi(2) test.


RESULTS
The rate of success in matching the shade for IM2 was 53.3 percent for participants in group 1, 30 percent for participants in group 2 and 20 percent for participants in group 3 (P = .017). However, there were no significant differences between the three groups for shades 2L1.5 and 2R1.5. Professional experience (P = .003) and age (P = .027) were associated with shade-matching success for tooth shade 2L1.5 only. The results showed no statistically significant differences with respect to sex, eye color or use of eyeglasses or contact lenses.


CONCLUSIONS
Dental care professionals who routinely performed restorative procedures matched the shades better than did participants in other groups. Professional experience was associated positively with the outcome, while sex, eye color and use of eyeglasses or contact lenses did not have any effect on shade-matching results.


CONCLUSIONS
To improve shade-matching skills, clinicians should participate in hands-on courses, continuing education classes and other training programs.
Capa
Nuray
N
Department of Prosthodontics, Yeditepe University Faculty of Dentistry, 34728-Goztepe, Istanbul, Turkey. capanuray@hotmail.com
Malkondu
Ozlem
O
Kazazoglu
Ender
E
Calikkocaoglu
Senih
S
D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003118:Color Perception; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003815:Dentists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D004955:Esthetics, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015588:Observer Variation; D011214:Practice, Psychological; D017797:Prosthesis Coloring / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results