Abstract
The purpose of this study was the objective chromatical measuring of the color of the primary teeth of Japanese children and the investigation of the Colorimeter used in this experiment.
The primary anterior tooth colors of 18 Japanese children aged from 3 years 8 months to 6 years 6 months (average: 5.0 years) were chromatically measured using Color and Color Difference Meter 1001 DP and Optical Head OFC-1001 DP (Nippon Denshoku Co. ).
The Hunter Color System (Lab system) was used for evaluating the appearance of the color.
The following results were obtained.
1. The mean chromatical colors of all types of primary anterior teeth showed an extremely white color.
2. It was very convenient that the chromaticity was obtained directly from the measuring device since the Lab system was used for the appearance of a color on the Colorimeter, and the data obtained was objective.
3. Since the primary anterior teeth are small and the surfaces are curved, the data was in danger of being influenced by the light from outside of the Optical Head which was in direct contact with the tooth surface.
4. It was very difficult to fix the Optical Head on the surface of the teeth during chromatical measuring because 4 seconds was required for the measuring and the Optical Head was made by hard material.
5. For chromatical measuring of the primary tooth colors in the oral cavity, it is desirable to use a Colorimeter which is not influenced by the light from the outside of the Optical Head, and is also able to measure the chromaticity in a moment.
