Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 11, 2025

Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Comparing Skin Tones to Shades of Upper Anterior Teeth: An Observational Study among Nigerian Adults
O F Ikusika1, P I Idon2, O A Adenuga-Taiwo3
1Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria.
Background:
Skin tones may be predictive of anterior tooth shade. An analysis of the relationship of skin tone to anterior tooth shade within a population may facilitate the prescription of complete dentures with optimal esthetics and realism.
Aim:
This study aimed to assess the relationship between skin tones and shades of upper anterior teeth among a diverse Nigerian adult population.
Methods:
The study was conducted between February and December 2022 among consecutive healthy adults recruited from dental clinics of five teaching hospitals in four cities located across four geopolitical zones of Nigeria. Skin tones were recorded using the National Immigration Service (NIS) Skin Color scale. The Vitapan Classic® shade guide was used to record the tooth shade of the upper central incisors and canines. Bivariate and multivariate tests of associations were performed, and predictive probabilities were developed.
Results:
A total of 1070 adults with a mean age of 30.8 ± 10 years participated in the study. NIS skin tones 6 (29.8%) and 5 (27.7%) were the most common, while hues A (48.7% in incisors and 48.4 % in canines) and B (41.1% in incisors and 40.1% in canines) were predominant. The values of the incisors and canines were positively related to skin tone (P = 0.001) and age (P = 0.001 for incisors and P = 0.003 for canines). Hue was also significantly associated with skin tone for canines (P = 0.01) and gender (P = 0.001). Regression models showed increasingly darker skin tones were positively related to duller values for incisor teeth (β = 0.173, OR =1.19, P < 0.001). The values for canines were more likely to be >2 (β = 0.118, OR =1.12, P = 0.01), but without significant positive relationship to increasingly darker skin tones (β = -0.99, OR =0.91, P = 0.22).
Conclusion:
Skin tones were associated with upper anterior tooth shade. There was a positive relationship between skin tones and the shades of upper anterior teeth. Skin tones could guide the clinician in shade selection during complete denture prescriptions.
Related Concept Videos
Changes in Skin Color: Clinical Perspectives
Albinism
Albinism is a genetic disorder that affects (completely or partially) the coloring of skin, hair, and eyes. The defect is primarily...
Assessment of Airway, Skin Color, and Use of Accessory Muscles
Introduction
The initial evaluation of a patient's respiratory system...
Surveys
Assessment of the Mouth
Mouth Inspection
The inspection begins with visually examining the mouth for symmetry, color, and size.
Pigmentation
Melanin occurs in two primary forms: eumelanin that provides black and brown pigment and pheomelanin that provides red color. Dark-skinned individuals produce more melanin than those with pale...
Teeth
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin...

