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Published on: July 27, 2022
The effect of ultraviolet induced fluorescence on visually perceived tooth color under normal light conditions
Sascha Hein1, Jaap J Ten Bosch2
1Private dental laboratory, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.
Objective:
Restorative and prosthetic materials should provide an appearance similar to natural teeth under all light conditions, including UV-rich environments and daylight. Various studies claim that UV-induced fluorescence makes teeth whiter and brighter in daylight. The aim of this paper is to determine experimentally the significance of tooth fluorescence in natural sunlight on perceived tooth color.
Methods:
A total of 35 extracted, hydrated teeth without restorations or endodontic treatments were evaluated in an experimental setup. A UV/VIS spectrometer using a reflectance/backscattering probe was used to collect the reflected spectrum. Unfiltered and filtered sunlight was used for irradiation of the samples so as to use the combined ultraviolet and visible spectrum (UV/VIS) and the visible spectrum (VIS) exclusively. Color coordinates for each group were measured using the CIE L*a*b* 1976 system, averaged, and compared.
Results:
The average color difference between both groups (UV/VIS and UV) was ΔE* 0.527. The average tooth color for the VIS group was L*VIS 72.21, a*VIS -2.42, and b*VIS 22.35, and for the UV/VIS group was L*UV/VIS 72.00, a*UV/VIS -2.47, and b*UV/VIS 22.44.
Significance:
UV induced fluorescence from sunlight does not make teeth whiter and brighter.
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