Vitapan 3D-master shade guide showed no fluorescence emission

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Spectrophotometry
• Color Science

Background:

• Accurate shade matching is crucial in restorative dentistry.
• The fluorescence of dental materials influences their visual appearance under different lighting conditions.
• Vitapan 3D-Master is a widely used shade guide for dental applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the fluorescence property of Vitapan 3D-Master shade guide tabs.
• To assess the fluorescence-induced color change (ΔE*ab-FL) in shade guide tabs.
• To compare the fluorescence of original and ground-to-flat shade tab forms.

Main Methods:

• Spectrophotometric analysis of 29 Vitapan 3D-Master shade tabs.
• Measurement of fluorescence using a reflection spectrophotometer.
• Calculation of color difference (ΔE*ab-FL) with and without UV component (CIE standard illuminant D65).

Main Results:

• Significant differences in fluorescence color change (ΔE*ab-FL) were observed between original (mean: 1.2 ± 0.6) and ground-to-flat (mean: 0.9 ± 0.1) shade tabs (p<0.05).
• ΔE*ab-FL values ranged from 0.2 to 2.7 for original tabs and 0.5 to 1.6 for ground-to-flat tabs.
• A distinct fluorescence peak was not detected in all shade tabs.

Conclusions:

• The fluorescence properties of Vitapan 3D-Master shade guide tabs differ significantly.
• Current fluorescence levels may not accurately represent natural teeth or restorative materials.
• Modification of the shade guide's fluorescence is recommended for improved clinical accuracy.