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Evaluation of Interexaminer Reliability in Visual Shade Matching: A Comparative Analysis of Optilume Trueshade and
Omar F Alkhalifah1, Shahzad Ali Shah1, Sabahat Ullah Khan Tareen1
1Department of Conservative Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Qassim University, Buraydah, SAU.
Background:
Achieving a lifelike color match for anterior restorations is a persistent challenge because tooth appearance is heavily influenced by illumination and observer-dependent choices. While visual matching with VITA-type guides remains the most common global approach, its reproducibility often drops under varying ambient light.
Objectives:
The study sought to determine whether using a light-correcting device (Optilume Trueshade, ~5,500 K; Optident Dental Products, Ilkley, West Yorkshire) meaningfully enhances interexaminer reliability when selecting shades for maxillary anterior teeth with the VITAPAN Classical A1-D4 shade guide (VITA Zahnfabrik, Germany) compared with conventional clinical lighting.
Methodology:
In this cross-sectional study, 50 adults (18-40 years) with vital maxillary incisors were randomized into Group A (conventional lighting) and Group B (Optilume Trueshade). Three blinded restorative dentists independently selected shades on the middle third of a randomly selected reference tooth. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha, while shade selection differences were analyzed via Kruskal-Wallis and post hoc tests.
Results:
Internal consistency was excellent, with both systems achieving a Cronbach's alpha of 0.91 and an overall study reliability of 0.94. For teeth 11, 12, and 22, no statistically significant differences in shade selection were found between operators. A significant discrepancy was observed for tooth 21 (p = 0.002); however, post hoc analysis revealed it was operator-specific rather than a flaw in the lighting system.
Conclusion:
Both the VITAPAN Classical guide and the Optilume Trueshade system are highly reliable tools for shade matching in restorative dentistry. Individual human factors, such as fatigue and physiological perception, remain significant variables, highlighting the need for periodic calibration and strengthened operator training.
