Development and Exploratory Pilot Evaluation of a Dual-Dimensional Shade Matching Training System

Area of Science:

• Dental education
• Aesthetic dentistry
• Color science in prosthodontics

Background:

• Clinical shade matching is crucial for aesthetic dentistry but lacks standardized training and evaluation.
• Existing methods for shade matching assessment are often subjective, leading to inconsistencies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate the Dual-Dimensional Shade Matching Training and Scoring (DDSMTS) system.
• To enhance practical shade matching proficiency and provide objective scoring in a simulated clinical setting.

Main Methods:

• The DDSMTS system utilizes a biomimetic head model, standardized prosthetic/abutment models, and shade guides.
• A software system quantifies color differences using CIE-LAB values for automatic, objective scoring.
• 33 dental students underwent training and assessment at baseline, 1 week, and 2 weeks post-training.

Main Results:

• Shade matching scores for both prosthetic and abutment significantly improved after training.
• Scores increased from baseline (38.28 ± 4.78, 40.88 ± 2.13) to 1-week (42.74 ± 3.28, 45.10 ± 1.38) and 2-week (48.06 ± 1.67, 48.45 ± 0.97) post-training (P < .05).

Conclusions:

• The DDSMTS system demonstrates promising short-term educational utility for simulated shade matching training.
• The system offers standardized, reproducible procedures and objective scoring to improve shade matching accuracy.
• Incorporation into preclinical curricula can enhance dental students' shade discrimination skills.