A comparison of conventional visual and spectrophotometric shade taking by trained and untrained dental students

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of shade selection using a spectrophotometer with a conventional method using a shade guide for ‘trained’ and ‘untrained’ students. Methods: The ‘trained’ group were given a presentation and training exercise on colour science and shade selection and the ‘untrained’ group were not given any information or training. Each student matched the shade of maxillary right central incisor for eight test subjects using both methods. Differences in colour (∆E) and value (∆L) between the natural teeth and the shade determined by each method were calculated for both trained and untrained students. Results: Overall, the spectrophotometric method was more accurate but ‘trained’ students tended to be more accurate in matching shade using the visual method and were significantly better in matching the value visually than when using the spectrophotometer. ‘Untrained’ students matched both the shade and the value more accurately when using the spectro- photometer. Conclusions: Within the limits of this study, matching the shade of natural teeth using a spectrophotometric device is more accurate than a conventional method using a shade guide. However, knowledge and training on colour science and shade selection significantly affected the results.