Anterior Shade Matching Journey
Mr André Buys
Circumnavigating the matching of a single anterior tooth’s shade can be quite daunting. Follow me as I discuss 20 years of shade taking experience, from shade tab placement during photography, to digital try-ins in Photoshop, and Delta E comparisons/calculations in Lightroom.
How does it all tie in with the current tendency of restoring monolithically, versus conventional layered ceramics? The reasoning behind cross polarization photography and processing of the L*a*b* values determined thereby, in relation to material selection and standardization of communication between the dentist and dental laboratory.
Where does one start when approaching digital photography colour determination and what equipment/software is essential. By establishing a set protocol for capturing information and hence restoring anterior teeth, chair time for patients, dentists and technicians alike can be minimized, and acceptable results achieved repeatedly. Finally, the guesswork has been minimized in shade matching and we are navigating towards a more scientific approach with predictable results.
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