Color difference thresholds of maxillofacial skin replications

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomedical Engineering
• Color Science

Background:

• Maxillofacial elastomers are used to create prostheses that match skin color.
• Accurate color matching is crucial for aesthetic outcomes in maxillofacial prosthetics.
• Existing color difference thresholds may not adequately account for variations in skin pigmentation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine perceptibility and acceptability thresholds for color differences in light and dark skin-colored maxillofacial elastomers.
• To compare color difference thresholds between light and dark skin-toned materials.

Main Methods:

• 15 pairs of light and 15 pairs of dark skin-colored silicone elastomers were fabricated.
• 45 evaluators assessed color match/mismatch and acceptability under controlled lighting.
• Color differences were calculated using CIELAB and CIEDE2000 formulae; ROC curves and AUC were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Perceptibility thresholds (CIELAB/CIEDE2000) were 1.1/0.7 for light and 1.6/1.2 for dark specimens.
• Acceptability thresholds (CIELAB/CIEDE2000) were 3.0/2.1 for light and 4.4/3.1 for dark specimens.
• Both threshold type and primary specimen color significantly affected color-difference thresholds (p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• Threshold type and skin color significantly impact color-difference thresholds for maxillofacial elastomers.
• A significant interaction indicates skin type has a stronger effect on acceptability than perceptibility.
• Primary specimen color was the sole significant main effect on the area under the ROC curve (AUC).