Shade selection is an extremely important aspect of aesthetic dentistry.One must have thorough knowledge of colour and shade selection before carrying out any restorative procedures in patients mouth. A brief seminar on colour and shade selection has been penned down here. Hope it helps u fetch some information regarding shade selection and colour in dentistry.

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COLOR ANDCOLOR AND
SHADESHADE
SELECTIONSELECTION
- DR. SNEHA RATNANI

3. Contents
• Introduction
• Colour
• Nature of light
• Eye and color perception
• Understanding the color of teeth
• Shade guide
• Sequence of shade selection
• References
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introductio
n

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ColorColor
Color that is perceived is the result of aColor that is perceived is the result of a
light source, the object that absorbs,light source, the object that absorbs,
transmits, reflects or scatters the lighttransmits, reflects or scatters the light
from the source, and the interpretation offrom the source, and the interpretation of
the result by the human visual systemthe result by the human visual system

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“Color is the result of the physical modification of light by
colorants as observed by the human eye and interpreted by the
brain”
(Billmeyer and Saltzman)
"Color is the sensation resulting from stimulation of the retina of
the eye by light waves of certain lengths”
(Webster)

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You must have light to see color.
If an object absorbs certain light waves, you do not see
these as colors
If an object reflects certain light waves, you see these as
colors
Colour is light and light is color

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LightLight
• Light is a visible electromagnetic energy measured in
nanometers or billionth of a meter.
• The eye can only see part of the electromagnetic
spectrum (wavelengths)
• That part 380-750 nanometers (nn)
• Pure white light when passed through a prism is broken
down into its component wavelength (colors)

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Color MixingColor Mixing
Light mixture- primary colorsLight mixture- primary colors
red, green, bluered, green, blue
Additive mixture system- mixing of two of theAdditive mixture system- mixing of two of the
light mixture primary colorslight mixture primary colors
red + blue = magentared + blue = magenta
red + green = yellowred + green = yellow
green + blue = cyangreen + blue = cyan
Pigment Or subtractive mixture systemPigment Or subtractive mixture system
yellow, cyan, magentayellow, cyan, magenta

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14. Munsell system
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HueHue
Quality by which we distinguish one color family from another.Quality by which we distinguish one color family from another.
Referred to as the basic colour.Referred to as the basic colour.
Ten hue color familiesTen hue color families
1.R-red 6.BG-bluegreen1.R-red 6.BG-bluegreen
2.YR-yellowgreen 7.B-blue2.YR-yellowgreen 7.B-blue
3.Y-yellow 8.PB-purpleblue3.Y-yellow 8.PB-purpleblue
4.GY-greenyellow 9.P-purple4.GY-greenyellow 9.P-purple
5.G-green 10.RP-redpurple5.G-green 10.RP-redpurple

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20. It depends on the wave length of the reflected and/ or
transmitted light.
Short wave length = violet hue
Long wave length = red hue
Studies show that most natural teeth fall in a hue range
between yellow and yellow red.
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ChromaChroma
Degree of saturation of hue.
Munsell- “That quality by which we distinguish a strong color from a
weak one”
High chroma = High amount of hue with little dilution
Low chroma= small amount of hue with large amount of dilution.
Studies have shown that teeth have a chroma range of 0-7.

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ValueValue
Value or the brilliance is the relative darkness or lighting of color
Value is the only dimension of color that can exist by itself.
Value differences are more noticeable and this may have more
significance in dental restoration than hue or chroma
-tooth with high value looks vital (alive)
-tooth with low value looks gray (lifeless)

23. TRANSLUCENCY
Considered as fourth dimension of colour.
Human teeth characterised by varying degrees of translucency.
Can be defined as gradient between transparent and opaque.
Translucency of enamel varies with angle of incidence,surface texture,
lustre, illumination.
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24. Color ( hue) relationship.
PRIMARY HUE: Red, yellow and blue.
It is the basis of dental color system.
SECONDARY HUE: Any two primary hue, when mixed
form a secondary hue.
when red and blue are mixed—violet
blue and yellow—green
yellow and red ---orange
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25. COMPLIMENTARY HUE: Colors directly opposite to
each other in the color wheel.
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26. CEILAB COLOUR SYSTEM
• In 1976 the Commission Internationale
De I’ Eclairage, an international color
research group founded in 1931,
published the CEILAB COLOR SYSTEM.
In this three dimensional color
system, l refers to brightness
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28. MAVERICK COLORS
• Color or colors found in dentin but not directly responsible
for the dentin color.
• Maverick colors combine with basic dentin color and project
their resultant effect through the enamel as composite tooth
color.
• Appear in different areas of dentin
• The range of family colors is rather narrow.(yellow , honey
yellow , light and dark brown).
• Influencevery subtle to extensive depending on their
saturation.
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29. The eye and color perception
• Light enters the eye through the lens and acts on the retina.
 RODS: These are located on the edges and few towards the
center of the retina.
• They are activated more in low light.
• They see value and not chroma or hue
• This is called scotopic vision.
• Rods outnumber cones 19-1

30.  CONES: These are concentrated near the center of the retina at the
fovea.
• These are the principal mediators of color
• Cones function only in higher light levels which is called photopic
vision.
• They are more highly innervated for more accurate detail and
transmission.
• So for shade selection, should be
directly in front of the object and
looking straight at it to get full
color effect.

31. Perception of color depends
on
• Observer
• Environment
• Object.

32. Observer
• The stimulus of light travels through cornea, lens, aqueous
and vitreous humors and reaches the cones and rods of the
eye.
• The cones function for daylight vision and color perception
whereas rods are sensitive to the quantity of light perceived.
• These stimulus are then sent to the brain where they are
computed and interpreted as color.

33. • Different individuals will make different
interpretations of the same stimulus and
hence, shade selection is highly dependent
on subjective assessment.

34. Color vision confusion
• Genetic.
(affects 8% males and 2% females)
Absence of cones
Shift in the spectral sensitivity
Loss of color difference signals
_ they have difficulty in discrimination red –green or
blue-yellow hue contents of color

35. • Acquired
(any one)
FACTORS AFFECTING .
-Emotions : affects papillary diameter
-Aging: yellowing of cornea affects
blue and purple discrimination
-Chronic diseases: leukemia, multiple sclerosis, liver
disease, alcoholism, diabetes.
-Medications: analgesics and antibiotics alters the
ability to distinguish colors.

36. • Therefore dentists should have their
color perception tested periodically.
• In case of a severe deficiency,
assistance from a well trained assistant
should be observed for color matching.

37. Shade selection environment
• A full spectrum of light is needed to elicit all the color a tooth is
capable of reflecting.
• The standard is “summers noon with clear sky daylight”
• Hence a need for standardized light source is required
resembling standard daylight.
-C.R.I >90 is ideal
-Color temperature of 5500k
• Light source should have a near U.V component

38. • A 3:1 task to ambient light has been recommended
• Intensity should be comfortable to eyes ,too much
compromises the ability to discriminate small color
differences.
• The operatory ceilings, walls, cabinets are reflectors and
contribute to intensity and color of ambient lighting must
have high munsell value and low chroma.
• Neutral grays have been suggested for walls, staffs, clothing
and patient drape.

39. Object and background
• The quality of the color of an object (tooth)
depends on its ability to absorb, reflect,
transmit or refract the light energy falling on
it.
• Contrast effects: the background
considerably affects the perception of color.
-simultaneous contrast
-actual contrast
-spatial contrast

40. Simultaneous contrast
- The light and dark contrasts can be correlated to the
surrounding environment like skin tone, hair color
and brightness of adjacent soft tissues and teeth
-hence brighter shades should be selected for light
toned patients and darker shades for pigmented –
toned patients
-since tooth shades fall in orange hue family , blue or
neutral grey back ground should be chosen to
precondition the eye.

41. Same shade is percieved differently due to inflamed gingiva

42. ACTUAL CONTRAST:
Is influenced by the size
and chroma .
Brighter tooth looks
larger while a darker
tooth of the same
dimensions looks
smaller.
Darker tooth appears smaller as
compared to normal tooth

43. Spatial contrast
• It is discerned when
the tooth is observed
in different positional
relationships.
• Recessed teeth look
darker while
overlapping teeth
appear brighter and
larger
Overlapping tooth looks brighter and larger as
Compared to tooth which is recessed

44. Flouroscense
• Defined as the absorption of light by a material and the
spontaneous emission of light in a longer wavelength ‘blue’.
• Flouroscense in natural tooth occurs primarily in the dentin
due to the higher amount of organic material present.
• More the dentin flourosces lower is the chroma.
• Flouroscense considered as subset of reflectivity.
• Flouroscent powders are added to crowns to increase the
quantity of light returned back to viewer, to block out
discolourations and decrease chroma.
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45. Opalescence
• A phenomenon where a material appears
to be one colour when you observe light
reflected from it and looks another
colour when you see light transmitted
through it
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46. Shade selection principles
• The patient in upright position,
mouth at dentist eye level
• Selection should be made when
subject tooth and adjacent teeth
are clean.
• Should be done before any intraoral
procedures started.
• Hold the shade tab as close to the
tooth as possible.
• Selection should be made at the
start of the appointment.

47. • Cosmetics should be removed and
bright colored clothes covered.
• View in many light source as
possible and from varying
distances.
• Do not stare for more than 5
seconds.
• Move your eyes away and look at a
neutral color (light blue or gray)

48. Commercial Shade GuidesCommercial Shade Guides
• Most convenient and common
method of making shade
selections
• Guides consist of shade tabs
– Metal backing
– Opaque porcelain
– Neck, body, and incisal color
• Select tab with the most natural
intraoral appearance

49. Commercial Shade Guides
• Vita Classic
• Vitapan 3D –Master
• Extended Range Shade
Guides

50. Vita Classic Shade Guide
A B C D
• Very popular shade guide
• Tabs of similar hue are clustered into letter
groups
– A (red-yellow)
– B (yellow)
– C (grey)
– D (red-yellow-gray)
• Chroma is
designated
with numerical values
• A3 = hue of red-yellow, chroma of 3

51. Red/Yellow Yellow Grey
Grey
Red/Yellow

52. Vita Classic Shade Guide
Manufacturer recommended sequence for
shade matching
1. Hue Selection
2. Chroma Selection
3. Value Selection
4. Final Check / Revision

53. Vita Classic – Step 1
(Hue Selection)
• Four categories representing hue
– A, yellow-red
– B, yellow
– C, gray
– D, red-yellow-gray
• Operator should select hue closest to that of natural
tooth
• Use area of tooth highest in chroma for hue
selection
– Difficult to select hue for teeth low in chroma

54. Vita Classic – Step 2
(Chroma Selection)
• Hue selection has been made (B)
• Chroma is selected from gradations within the B tabs
– B1, B2, B3, B4
• Several comparisons should be made
– Avoid retinal fatigue
– Rest eyes between comparisons (blue-gray)

55. Vita Classic – Step 3
(Value Selection)
• Use of second, value ordered shade guide is recommended
• Value oriented shade guide
– B1, A1, B2, D2, A2, C1, C2, D4, A3,
D3, B3, A3.5, B4, C3, A4, C4,
• Value best determined by squinting with comparisons made at
arms length
– Decreases light
– Diminishes cone sensitivity, increases rod sensitivity
– Tooth fading first has a lower value

56. Vita Classic – Step 4
(Final Check / Revision)
• Potential Problem
– Following value selection, tabs selected
for hue and chroma may not coincide with
shade tab selected for value

57. Vita Classic – Step 4
(Final Check / Revision)
• Possible Findings / Solutions
– Value of shade tab < natural teeth
• Select new shade tab with higher value
• Cannot increase value of restoration with extrinsic
staining
• Will only increase opacity, light transmisison
– Value of shade tab > natural teeth
• Select new shade tab with lower value
(or)
• Bridge difference with intrinsic or extrinsic staining

58. VITAPAN 3D-MASTER Shade
Guide

59. Vita-3D – Step 1
• Determine the
lightness
level (value)
• Hold shade guide
to
patient’s mouth
• Start with darkest
group moving right
to left
• Select Value group
1, 2, 3, 4, or 5

60. Vita-3D – Step 2
• Select the chroma
• From your selected
Value group, remove
the middle tab (M)
and spread the
samples out like a
fan
• Select one of the
three shade samples
to determine chroma

61. Vita-3D – Step 3
• Determine the
hue
• Check whether
the natural tooth
is more
yellowish or
more reddish
than the shade
sample selected

62. Vita-3D – Step 4
• For more precise shade,
intermediate levels for hue, value,
and chroma can be given
– 2.5M2 = value between 2M2 and 3m2
– 3M1.5 = chroma between 3M1 and 3M2
– 3M2 / 3L2.5 = hue between 3M2 and
3L2.5

63. Vita-3D – Value Modification
• For more precise shade, intermediate
levels for value, chroma, and hue can be
given
– 2.5M2 = value between 2M2 and 3M2

64. Vita-3D – Chroma Modification
• For more precise shade, intermediate
levels for value, chroma and hue can be
given
– 3M1.5 = chroma between 3M1 and 3M2

65. Vita-3D – Hue Modification
• For more precise shade, intermediate
levels for value, chroma and hue can be
given
– 3M2 / 3L2.5 = hue between 3M2 and 3L2.5
2.5

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Guidelines for Clinical Shade SelectionGuidelines for Clinical Shade Selection
1.light 2.amount lighting1.light 2.amount lighting
3.location of lighting 4.restricting light3.location of lighting 4.restricting light
5.surrounding colors 6.tone of selection5.surrounding colors 6.tone of selection
7.patient position 8.tooth condition7.patient position 8.tooth condition
9.comparison prcds. 10.selectiodistance9.comparison prcds. 10.selectiodistance
11.verification 12.diagram11.verification 12.diagram
13.photograph13.photograph

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1. Light1. Light –– sunlight is the traditional source of lightsunlight is the traditional source of light
for performing work involving colorsfor performing work involving colors
standard daylightstandard daylight –– northern exposure sunlight innorthern exposure sunlight in
the middle portion of the daythe middle portion of the day
MetamerismMetamerism –– phenomenon occuring when thephenomenon occuring when the
color of the two objects appear to match undercolor of the two objects appear to match under
one lighting source but not under a differentone lighting source but not under a different
sourcesource

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2. Amount of lighting2. Amount of lighting –– the recommendedthe recommended
minimal amount of room lighting for properminimal amount of room lighting for proper
color matching in the dental office is about 200color matching in the dental office is about 200
feet candles when measured at 30 inches abovefeet candles when measured at 30 inches above
the floor. This level of lighting is approximatelythe floor. This level of lighting is approximately
the same as that from three ceiling fixture eachthe same as that from three ceiling fixture each
containing four 48 tubes installed in a 10ft. Bycontaining four 48 tubes installed in a 10ft. By
10ft. room10ft. room

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3. Location of lighting3. Location of lighting
3.1 all luminous ceiling3.1 all luminous ceiling
3.2 open perimeter recessed fixtures3.2 open perimeter recessed fixtures
3.3 open perimeter surface mounted3.3 open perimeter surface mounted
fixturesfixtures
4. Restricting light4. Restricting light –– light rays enter the eye,light rays enter the eye,
they strike the retina, a layer of nerve fibers, thenthey strike the retina, a layer of nerve fibers, then
passes through several layers of cells, finally itpasses through several layers of cells, finally it
reaches the rods and conesreaches the rods and cones

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5. Surrounding colors5. Surrounding colors –– light strikes an object,light strikes an object,
some wavelengths are absorbed by the objectsome wavelengths are absorbed by the object
and some are reflectedand some are reflected
color of an objectcolor of an object –– light that is actuallylight that is actually
reflected by the objectreflected by the object
6. Tone of selection6. Tone of selection –– procedure for shadeprocedure for shade
selection should be made at the onset ofselection should be made at the onset of
diagnostic appointment when it is determineddiagnostic appointment when it is determined
that a ceramic restoration is necessarythat a ceramic restoration is necessary

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7. patient position7. patient position –– Clark stated for selecting aClark stated for selecting a
shade, it is extremely important that the patientshade, it is extremely important that the patient
be in an upright position when the shade isbe in an upright position when the shade is
selected so that the teeth may be viewed underselected so that the teeth may be viewed under
the same conditions which they will be seen inthe same conditions which they will be seen in
business and social lifebusiness and social life
8. tooth condition8. tooth condition –– true color characteristic andtrue color characteristic and
appearance of depth transluscency in a naturalappearance of depth transluscency in a natural
tooth cannot be correctly perceived unless thetooth cannot be correctly perceived unless the
tooth is free of plaque and surface stains. Toothtooth is free of plaque and surface stains. Tooth
must be kept moist during shade selectionmust be kept moist during shade selection

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9. Comparison9. Comparison
procedures- it is best toprocedures- it is best to
evaluate prospective colorevaluate prospective color
specimens one at a time byspecimens one at a time by
holding it next to the toothholding it next to the tooth
being matched. Holdingbeing matched. Holding
the entire shade guide canthe entire shade guide can
cause confusion andcause confusion and
difficulty may bedifficulty may be
encountered inencountered in
determining the bestdetermining the best
specimen from such aspecimen from such a
large group of samples.large group of samples.

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10. Selection distance- a10. Selection distance- a
selection made at 3-6 feetselection made at 3-6 feet
from the oral cavity isfrom the oral cavity is
often more useful, since itoften more useful, since it
is representative of theis representative of the
conditions under whichconditions under which
the patient teeth will mostthe patient teeth will most
often be observed.often be observed.
3 ft.

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11. Verification- the11. Verification- the
importance of having theimportance of having the
shade selection processshade selection process
performed by a secondperformed by a second
individual such as a dentalindividual such as a dental
assistant cannot beassistant cannot be
overemphasized. Thisoveremphasized. This
procedure providesprocedure provides
another opinion and helpsanother opinion and helps
to compensate forto compensate for
individual eye fatigue andindividual eye fatigue and
visual color defects.visual color defects.

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12. Diagram- the12. Diagram- the
location of these toneslocation of these tones
of color can beof color can be
measured on the toothmeasured on the tooth
and the information canand the information can
be transferred to abe transferred to a
diagram. The form anddiagram. The form and
extent of transluscencyextent of transluscency
as well as other uniqueas well as other unique
characteristic such ascharacteristic such as
enamel checks orenamel checks or
stained areas can also bestained areas can also be
identified andidentified and
geographically locatedgeographically located
in the diagram.in the diagram.

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13. Photographs- these are not accurate13. Photographs- these are not accurate
representations of clinical color, they can berepresentations of clinical color, they can be
useful in showing the laboratory technicianuseful in showing the laboratory technician
the extent of translucency and the magnitudethe extent of translucency and the magnitude
and location of surface characteristicsand location of surface characteristics

79. • Color science is the key to solving the shade
selection – color matching problem
• Elecronic adjuncts will assist in objectifying
observations, still it is the human eye which is
most able to discern what is and what is not
esthetic and who must ultimately be sattisfied.
- Robert c. sproull.
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80. REFERENCES
 Vimal sikri -Text Book Of Operative Dentistry
 Goldstein – esthetic dentistry
 Sandesh m. mayker -D.C.N.A: vol 45,
no:1,jan 2001:55
 Sproull RC.color matching in dentistry. Part II .practical application of applying
color.J Prosthetic Dent 1973;29:560
 Douglas A.Terry – J Esthet Restor Dent 16:213-226,2004
 Luis antonio - J Esthet Restor Dent 16:336-347,2004
• Andrew joiner –tooth color : A review of literature : journal of dentistry

81. THANK YOU