A Comparative Study on the Accuracy and Consistency of Tooth Shade Assessment Using Digital and Visual Methods

Tofail, Towhid; Haque, Samiul; Islam, Salma; Zaki, Mohammed Mahbub; Awal, Md. Abdul; Khan, Md. Haider Ali

doi:10.5281/zenodo.14201970

Published January 2023 | Version v1

Journal article Open

A Comparative Study on the Accuracy and Consistency of Tooth Shade Assessment Using Digital and Visual Methods

1. Department of Prosthodontics, Ibrahim Medical College Hospital, Shahbagh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
2. Department of Dental Pharmacology, Ibrahim Medical College Hospital, Shahbagh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
3. Ibrahim Medical College Hospital, Shahbagh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
4. Consultant, Department of Prosthodontics, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University
5. Assistant Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, Dhaka Dental College
6. Senior Consultant, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka

Contributors

Contact person:

Tofail, Towhid¹

1. Dr. Towhid Tofail, Department of Prosthodontics, Ibrahim Medical College Hospital, Shahbagh, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstarct

Introduction: Tooth shade assessment is a fundamental aspect of modern dentistry, playing a pivotal role in both cosmetic and restorative procedures. Achieving precise color matching is essential for ensuring aesthetically pleasing outcomes in various dental treatments, including crowns, veneers, and fillings.
Aim of the study: This study aims to compare the accuracy and consistency of tooth shade assessment using digital and visual methods.
Methods: This cross-sectional comparative study was conducted at Ibrahim Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh, over a six-month period from January 2022 to June 2022.
Result: In the assessment of tooth shade of right canine, the digital method predominantly identified shade D2 in 57.9% of cases, while the visual method revealed a broader spectrum of shades, with shade A2 being the most common at 32.3%. In our study, the digital method demonstrated a strong preference for certain tooth shade of left canine, such as D2 (54.1%), which indicates potential limitations in the device's ability to differentiate between similar shades. In contrast, the visual method showed a broader range of shade identification, with A1 (25.6%) and A2 (35.3%) being more prevalent. This broader range may suggest that visual methods, while less precise, can be more flexible in capturing a variety of shades. Notably, significant differences were observed between the two methods: the digital method underrepresented shade A2 and overrepresented shade D2 compared to the visual method. This discrepancy underscores the variations in shade identification between digital and visual approaches.
Conclusion: The study highlights that while digital methods offer more consistent shade identification for specific shades, visual methods provide a broader range of shade assessments.