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Updated: Jul 5, 2026
Shrinkage of Dental Composite in Simulated Cavity Measured with Digital Image Correlation
Published on: July 21, 2014
The use of objective digital matching to achieve an esthetic composite restoration
F D Jarad1, S S Albadri, L H Mair
1School of Dental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool University Dental Hospital, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, UK. f.jarad@liverpool.ac.uk
Objective:
To investigate the ability to match composite restorations to teeth using digital imaging and CIE L*a*b* color differences.
Methods:
Ten extracted human central incisors were used. Eleven discs of composite of differing shades were produced and mounted on white cardboard to create a customized shade guide (CSG). The CSG was photographed next to each of the ten teeth in a phantom head using a digital SLR camera. The images were analyzed, and color differences (deltaE) between the teeth and the shade discs were calculated using CIE L*a*b* values. Three cavities were then drilled into the labial surface of each tooth. Composite shades with the lowest three deltaE values were then used to restore the cavities. Ten observers evaluated the teeth under a standard D65 light source and recorded the best match.
Results:
The majority of the observers selected the lowest deltaE in six out of the 10 teeth, and in a further two out of 10 teeth the second lowest deltaE was chosen.
Conclusion:
The lowest deltaE selected by objective color matching was agreed as the best match by observers. The high correlation between digital and visual color matching confirms the ability of digital camera and image analysis software to detect color differences.
