Matching Color Tabs From The Most Commonly Used Shade-Guides From VITA. – (IN VITRO) Laboratory Study

Abstract

Background & Aim: this study aims to match between the color tabs of the (A,B) from the VITA CLASSIC with the color tabs from the VITA 3D-MASTER  , using two methods for coinciding, and evaluating the impact of experience on color matching process.

Materials and Methods: This study is a comparative IN-VITRO study. The sample of this study  was the nine color tabs which are (A1,A2,A3,A3.5,A4,B1,B2,B3,B4 ) from the vita CLASSIC and 26 from 3D-MASTER, in method one:25 resident doctors in the departement of fixed-prosthodontics in Damascus university were included to do the shade matching process between each shade tab from CLASSICAL shade guide, and its most relevant match from the 3D-MASTER , three readings were taken from each dentist ,in a three weeks period and in standard lighting conditions.

In method two: the VITA EASY-SHADE was used to determine the color stimulus values for each shade tab from the two shade-guides, then ∆E between each tab from the two shade-guides was recorded, furthermore the data from the dentists readings was recorded and matched with the smallest ∆E according to the instrument.

Results: The study demonstrates the match between the shades from the two SHADE-GUIDES  in large ratios,according to the oppinion of the dentist the best match was between B1 and 1M1 which was 100%,furthermore the other ratios were between 86%and 40% , and according to the EASY-SHADE  the ∆E  value was between 1.7 and 2.9.

A table with the best match color tabs from each  SHADE-GUIDE was accomplished, in some shade tabs there was a correspond between the colors from the two methods,which were (A1,A3.5,B1,B2,B4), otherwise the following colors(A2,A3,A4,B3) had two best match from the 3D-MASTER in the visual method and one color in the EASY-SHADE method.

 moreover there was a statistical difference between the medians of the ∆E in each reading.

Conclusion: Within this study limits, the aim of this study was achieved and a table with the best match color tabs from each  SHADE-GUIDE was recorded, to simplify the communication between the dentist and the laboratory.