Comparing the effectiveness of shade measurement
by intraoral scanner, digital spectrophotometer,
and visual shade assessment
Alexandra Czigola DMD | Ivett Roth DMD | Viktoria Vitai DMD |
Dora Fehér DMD | Péter Hermann DMD, PhD | Judit Borbély DMD, PhD
Abstract
Objective: Trios3 (3Shape, Denmark) intraoral scanner is complete with a tooth
shade measurement function, but there is limited information about its efficacy. This
in vivo study aimed to evaluate this function in relation to visual and spectrophotometric shade determination.
Materials and Methods: Ten dental students from Semmelweis University determined
tooth shade for 10 volunteers using Vita A1-D4 (VC) and Vita Linearguide
3D-Master (LG) guides, Vita Easyshade spectrophotometer (ES) and Trios
3 intraoral scanner (TR). First and last patient was always the same (Patient R).
Intrapersonal repeatability was calculated. Four selected shades of each tooth
were presented to student, supervisor, and patient to select best match. Selection
percentages were calculated. The supervisor's best match was the reference
(ΔE00).
Results: Median ΔE00 of Patient R: TR 1.09; VC 1.5; ES 2.35; LG 3.1. The percentages
of best match: VC 16.7%.; TR 21.64%; ES 26.58%; LG 34.08%. Median ΔE00 of
students' and supervisor's best match: LG 2.73; ES 4.29; TR 4.29; VC 16.35. TR was
the most repeatable. The most “best-match shade tabs” were selected using LG. VC
shade tabs was the least consistent with the examined teeth.
Conclusions: TR can be used for shade selection with a 3D-Master tooth color system
with visual verification.
Clinical Significance: Correct tooth shade determination is one of the most important
step in making esthetic restorations. New shade matching systems have
been developed to surpass the visual method of shade determination. There are
new intraoral scanners with built-in shade measurement functions. Digital shade
determination methods are more independent from the environmental circumstances,
and with intraoral scanners, it is easy to measure the tooth shade by
taking a digital impression at the same time. These new devices may be a reliable
alternative method for shade selection with visual verification.