Comparison of visual shade determination and an intra-oral dental colourimeter

The choice of correct tooth shade for the fabrication of a restoration remains a challenge, even for experienced clinicians. The aim of this research was to evaluate and compare the precision of two different shade determination methods in terms of repeatability. Maxillary right central incisor of 10 patients was evaluated visually with the use of Vitapan Classical shade guide by five observers and instrumentally with the Vitapan classical shade guide values of ShadeEye NCC intra-oral colourimeter three times consecutively. The in vivo repeatability of methods were analysed with the spectrophotometric L*, a*, b* values of the shade guide (Vitapan Classical). Within the limitations of this study, the repeatability of instrumental (intra-oral dental colourimeter) and visual shade determinations were acceptable.