title: Comparison of accuracies of an intraoral spectrophotometer and conventional visual method for shade matching using two shade guide systems.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Thisin vitrostudy compared the shade matching abilities of an intraoral spectrophotometer and the conventional visual method using two shade guides. The results of previous investigations between color perceived by human observers and color assessed by instruments have been inconclusive. The objectives were to determine accuracies and interrater agreement of both methods and effectiveness of two shade guides with either method.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the visual method, 10 examiners with normal color vision matched target control shade tabs taken from the two shade guides (VITAPAN Classical™ and VITAPAN 3D Master™) with other full sets of the respective shade guides. Each tab was matched 3 times to determine repeatability of visual examiners. The spectrophotometric shade matching was performed by two independent examiners using an intraoral spectrophotometer (VITA Easyshade™) with five repetitions for each tab.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results revealed that visual method had greater accuracy than the spectrophotometer. The spectrophotometer; however, exhibited significantly better interrater agreement as compared to the visual method. While VITAPAN Classical shade guide was more accurate with the spectrophotometer, VITAPAN 3D Master shade guide proved better with visual method.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thisin vitrostudy clearly delineates the advantages and limitations of both methods. There were significant differences between the methods with the visual method producing more accurate results than the spectrophotometric method. The spectrophotometer showed far better interrater agreement scores irrespective of the shade guide used. Even though visual shade matching is subjective, it is not inferior and should not be underrated. Judicious combination of both techniques is imperative to attain a successful and esthetic outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Government Dental College, Alappuzha, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Vidhya
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Parameswaran
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Government Dental College, Kottayam, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anilkumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Government Dental College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lylajam
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Government Dental College, Kottayam, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rajesh
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Government Dental College, Kottayam, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Vivek
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Narayan
keywords: Accuracy; dental shade matching; repeatability; shade guide; spectrophotometer