MOST FREQUENTLY SELECTED SHADE FOR ADVANCE RESTORATION DELIVERED IN A TERTIARY HOSPITAL FACILITY IN SOUTH WESTERN...

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Restorative Dentistry
• Aesthetic Dentistry

Background:

• Bulk purchasing of porcelain materials leads to significant economic losses due to underutilization and expiration.
• Understanding prevalent dental shade preferences can mitigate these financial losses.
• Optimizing shade selection is crucial for efficient inventory management in dental practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To audit shade selection practices for advanced restorations in a Conservative Dentistry Clinic.
• To identify the most frequently selected dental shades.
• To assess the influence of patient demographics (gender, age) on shade choice.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of shade selection data for advanced restorations over a seven-year period (2009-2016).
• Data included socio-demographic information, oral hygiene, doctor's designation, restoration type, tooth number, and shade guide used.
• Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Version 22.

Main Results:

• Shades from the 'A' group were most frequently selected (50.6%) for advanced restorations.
• Vita shade A3 was the single most selected shade, while shade C4 was the least selected.
• Lighter 'A' shades were preferred by female patients (57%), and 'D' shades by male patients (60%). Younger patients (<45 years) also favored lighter shades.

Conclusions:

• Vita shade A3 is the predominant choice for aesthetic advanced dental restorations.
• A general trend indicates a preference for lighter shades among female patients and younger age demographics.
• Informed shade selection can improve patient satisfaction and reduce material waste.