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The Use of Dental Colorimeters in Shade Communication
James Fondriest, DDS
Introduction
Matching a prosthetic replacement to the natural dentition can be one of the more challenging things the restorative dentist does in practice. Several companies have recently applied colorimetric/spectrophotometric technologies to help the restorative dentist create lifelike restorations. In a matter of seconds, hue, chroma, value, and translucency measurements of the proximal teeth can be taken and used by a laboratory technician to construct a restoration. The information contained in the readout can be more helpful to the laboratory technician than is the average dentist-generated prescription. Obviously, any improvement in the communication between dentist and technician will be of great benefit to the restorative outcome.
Colorimeters are optical reading devices that can assess what wavelengths are reflected back to its sensors. The technology of these sensors has improved to the point that they are extremely accurate when assessing opaque objects. Colorimeters have been used for decades in the color industry to match opaque color swatches. Opaque objects, when illuminated, will reflect variable amounts of light back to the viewer; the dominant wavelength(s) reflected back to the eye is the perceived color of the object.1
Now colorimeters have been introduced into the dental arena to help with shade assessment. At the present time, accurately matching shades has had varying levels of success, requiring both the dentist and the laboratory technician to have artistic skills and knowledge of basic color science. Conversations with laboratory technicians about shade prescriptions often demonstrate their frustration at wanting to provide a pleasing restoration but not getting the information needed to accurately match the natural dentition. Laboratories receive prescriptions every day with confusing written descriptions such as, "B-1 with characterization"; colorimeters provide a quick, easy upgrade to this weak link in the restorative process.
