title: Influence of Gender on Visual Shade Matching in Dentistry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Accuracy on visual shade matching (VSM) is one of the most difficult procedures in esthetic dentistry. Some variables can influence on this process and gender is one of the most controversial. This observational study evaluated the influence of gender on accuracy of VSM.
  
  
  METHODS
  One-hundred observers (65 females and 35 males) shade matched four human upper central incisors (UCI) to shade tabs from Vita Classical (VC) shade guide. In addition, the spectral reflectance values from the four UCI and from the 16 VC shade tabs were measured using a spectroradiometer (SP). Measurements were performed over a gray background, inside a viewing booth and under D65 illuminant (diffuse/0º geometry). CIELAB coordinates (L*, a*, and b*) were calculated according to CIE D65 illuminant and CIE 2º Standard Observer. Instrumental shade matching for each UCI, based on minimum color difference, was performed using two color difference metrics (CIELAB and CIEDE2000(2:1:1)). Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and McNemar test (α = 0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Irrespective of the color difference metric, the most prevalent shade performed by females showed greater success (50% for CIELAB and 100% for CIEDE2000(2:1:1)) than males (25% for CIELAB and 50% for CIEDE2000(2:1:1)). However, such difference on gender was statistically significant only when using CIEDE2000(2:1:1) color difference metric (p ≤ 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The most prevalent shade option resultant from VSM performed by females using VC shade guide perfectly agreed (100% success rate) with measurements from SP and CIEDE2000(2:1:1) color difference metric.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ability to understand and distinguish color differences in VSM is critical in clinical dentistry. Variation in shade perception due to observer gender can be minimized using additional observers and/or improving shade matching ability. (J Esthet Restor Dent 29:E15-E23, 2017).
authors.affiliation: Postdoctoral Researcher, Post-graduate Program in Dentistry, Dental School, University of Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Oscar E
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7314-5049
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Pecho
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Faculty of Science, Department of Optics, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Razvan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ghinea
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Faculty of Science, Department of Optics, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Maria M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.affiliation: Senior Professor, Post-graduate Program in Dentistry, Dental School, University of Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Della Bona
mesh_terms: D003116:Color; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017797:Prosthesis Coloring; D012737:Sex Factors