Outcomes of visual tooth shade selection performed by operators with different experience

To evaluate the effect of professional experience and lighting conditions on visual shade selection on natural teeth and comparing the visual-shade-selection results with those of instrumental methods.

Shade selection was performed on five maxillary central incisors. The 25 observers were divided into five groups according to their professional experience. Observers performed visual-shade-selection using shade guide (Vita 3D Master, Vita Zahnfabrik, Bad Säckingen, Germany) under two lighting conditions (4000 and 6500 K) from the cervical, middle and incisal thirds of the teeth. Same teeth were measured using an intraoral scanner (Trios 3Shape, Copenhagen, Denmark) and spectrophotometer (Vita Easyshade Compact, Vita Zahnfabrik, Bad Säckingen, Germany), under the same two lighting conditions.

Visual-shade-selection outcomes were not affected by professional experience under both lighting conditions (P < .05). Outcomes of visual-shade-selection and intraoral scanner were not significantly different than that of spectrophotometer (P > .05). Lighting conditions had no effect on the shade measurement outcomes of visual shade selection, Vita Easyshade Compact, and Trios 3Shape (P > .05).

Shade measurement outcomes were not affected by the lighting conditions (4000 and 6500 K). The shade measurement feature of the T-3S could be an alternative to V-ES and VSS.

This study suggests professional experience and lighting conditions has no effect on visual shade selection. Trios 3Shape could be used for shade determination as an alternative to a Vita Easyshade Compact spectrophotometer.