Abstract
Purpose: To establish a new color order system for natural teeth based on color depth B value.
Methods: The population sample tested in this study included 500 individuals from the Boston area. It was a multigenerational population, with a multiethnic background and a broad socioeconomic range. Reflectance values of 500 upper left anterior incisors and 90 dental shade tabs were measured by the Multispectral Camera system MSC-2000, and tristimulus values X, Y, Z were calculated. Using tristimulus values, the Computer Color Searching (CCS) program selected one shade tab (CCS tab) having the smallest dE less than 3.6 between a natural tooth and shade tabs. For a natural tooth uncovered by shade tabs, Computer Color Matching (CCM) tabs were made according to CCM prescription. Color depth B values for 70 tooth tabs (54 CCS tabs and 16 CCM tabs) were calculated. Then, 70 tooth tabs were minimized according to B value.
Results: Of 500 natural teeth, 472 were covered with CCS tabs, and 28 natural teeth were covered with CCM tabs. Seventy tooth tabs having B values from -14.98 to 22.66 were minimized to 52 tabs.
Conclusions: It could be said that this color order system, consisting of 36 CCS tabs and 16 CCM tabs based on B values, would be efficient for easy and accurate visual shade matching.
