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Patients' self-perception of tooth shade in relation to professionally objective evaluation
Gili R Samorodnitzky-Naveh1, Yoav Grossman, Yaacov G Bachner
1Department of Oral Rehabilitation, The Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
Objective:
Self-assessment of teeth shade was compared with professional assessment.
Method And Materials:
Patients' anterior teeth shade evaluation was conducted first by the patient (n = 193) and then by the clinician using the Vita shade guide.
Results:
In 18.7% of participants, self-assessment of teeth shade matched in hue and chroma to the clinician's evaluation. A positive correlation was found between participants' self-assessment of their shade and the clinician's assessment (P = .014; Pearson product moment correlation). Participants assessed their shade darker than the clinician (P < .001; chi-square test). Only 3.6% were highly satisfied with the shade of their teeth, and 83.4% were interested in a future bleaching procedure. Tooth shade was more accurately assessed by women (P = .02) and nonsmokers (P = .03; chi-square test).
Conclusion:
A patient's preference toward a lighter shade should be addressed during treatment planning to match the patient's expectations for esthetics and increase patient satisfaction of treatment outcome. Patients may prefer white and shiny rather than a natural appearance.
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