title: Colour discrimination of dental professionals and colour deficient laypersons.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to compare results of non-dental (conventional) and dental colour discrimination tests (customized, shade guide test), to evaluate influence of profession, gender and age of colour normal dentists and laboratory technicians on colour discrimination results and to evaluate results of colour deficient laypersons.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 36 colour normal dental professionals, all volunteers were divided into two groups consisting of 18 participants each: dentists (DDS) and laboratory technicians (CDT). In addition, a group 15 colour deficient males also volunteered (CDP). Colour discrimination was examined using Farnsworth-Munsell 100 Hue Test and total error scores (TES) were calculated. Participants performed a dentistry related colour discrimination test by matching 26 pairs of shade tabs. Shade guide scores (3DS) were calculated. These tests were performed under the controlled conditions of a viewing booth. Mean values and standard deviations were determined. ANOVA, Mann-Whitney test, t-test and Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) were used for result analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TES and 3DS were correlated for colour normal observers, r = 0.47 (p < 0.01). No statistically significant differences in TES and 3DS by profession, gender and age were recorded. TES of 159 (83) and 3DS of 6.7 (2.7) were recorded for colour deficient laypersons. Based on TES, 33% of colour deficient laypersons had average discrimination, whilst 67% had low discrimination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Within the limitation of this study, it was concluded that results of non-dental and dental colour discrimination tests were correlated, and that profession (DDS/CDT), gender and age gender did not influence colour discrimination of colour normal participants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although colour and appearance of dental restorations are of paramount importance for the aesthetic outcome, colour vision of dental professionals is not routinely tested. This paper validates and recommends the usage of dental shade guides for a simple, affordable and understandable testing of colour vision, either as a sole test or complementing conventional (professional) tests.
authors: Department of Prosthodontics, Study of Dentistry, University of Split, Split, Croatia. poljak@sfzg.hr
authors: Renata
authors: R
authors: Poljak-Guberina
authors: Asja
authors: A
authors: Celebic
authors: John M
authors: JM
authors: Powers
authors: Rade D
authors: RD
authors: Paravina
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003116:Color / Q000592:standards; D003118:Color Perception; D003119:Color Perception Tests; D003117:Color Vision Defects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003800:Dental Technicians; D003815:Dentists; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014070:Tooth / Q000033:anatomy & histology