title: In vivo evaluation of the color of anterior primary teeth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the color of anterior primary teeth.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 449 teeth (including central and lateral incisors) belonging to 78 3- to 6-year-olds were evaluated. A spectroscope was used to determine tooth color. Each tooth's  overall shade and the respective shades in the cervical, middle, and incisal thirds were measured, and data collected was subjected to statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  D2 was found to be the most common shade of primary teeth. Comparing B1, D2, and C1 shades using a chi-square test  showed statistically significant (P<.001) differences among children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  D2 was the most common shade of primary anterior teeth in children.
authors: Department of Orthodontics, Meenakshi Ammal Dental College, Chennai, India. drmeeraramaswamy@gmail.com
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Meera
authors: Joshua
authors: J
authors: Shieh
authors: M S
authors: MS
authors: Muthu
mesh_terms: D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003124:Colorimetry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor; D008297:Male; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous