Advanced Dentistry
Digital Shade Selection
The selection of the correct porcelain shade is still one of the most difficult, yet critically important parts of achieving a perfect looking crown, bridge, or veneer. Room lighting, the doctors color perception, the patients color perception, the color of the patients clothing all affect the outcome of the restoration. All of these factors probably account for why so many porcelain crown and bridge restorations do not match patients’ natural teeth.
Digital technology has significantly reduced the subjectivity of color selection and greatly enhanced shade selection and communication between the dental office and dental lab. A scanner can be passed over the patients natural tooth and a small computer can create a “color map” of the tooth. This information can then be given to the laboratory technician to make a crown, veneer, or bridge that matches the natural tooth extremely well.
