References

Mackenzie L, Parmar D, Bonsor SJ Fundamentals of shade matching. Aesthet Update. 2024; 1:41-46 https://doi.org/10.12968/aedu.2024.1.1.41
Parmar D, Mackenzie L, Bonsor SJ The art of clinical shade matching of resin-based composite materials. Aesthet Update. 2024; 1:113-120 https://doi.org/10.12968/aedu.2024.1.3.113
Ongul D, Sermet B, Balkaya MC Visual and instrumental evaluation of color match ability of 2 shade guides on a ceramic system. J Prosthet Dent. 2012; 108:9-14 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3913(12)60102-4
Gracis S, Thompson VP, Ferencz JL A new classification system for all-ceramic and ceramic-like restorative materials. Int J Prosthodont. 2015; 28:227-235 https://doi.org/10.11607/ijp.4244
Cesar PF, Miranda RBP, Santos KF Recent advances in dental zirconia: 15 years of material and processing evolution. Dent Mater. 2024; 40:824-836 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dental.2024.02.026
Bonsor SJAmsterdam: Churchill Livingstone; 2013

The art of clinical shade matching of indirect restorative materials. Part 3

From Volume 2, Issue 1, March 2025 | Pages 15-20

Authors

Stephen J Bonsor

BDS(Hons) MSc FHEA FDS RCPS(Glasg) FDFTEd FCGDent, GDP

BDS(Hons), MSc, FHEA, FDS RCPS(Glasg), FDFTEd, FCGDent, GDP, Teviot Dental Practice, Hawick; Programme Director/Senior Clinical Lecturer, University of Edinburgh

Articles by Stephen J Bonsor

Email Stephen J Bonsor

Dipesh Parmar

BDS MJDF MSc Ortho FCGDent

BDS, MJDF, FCGDent, MSc Ortho, GDP, Acorn Dental, Birmingham

Articles by Dipesh Parmar

Email Dipesh Parmar

Louis Mackenzie

BDS, FRCPS, FCGDent, BDS FDS RCPS(Glasg) FCGDent

BDS, FDS RCPS(Glasg), FCGDent, Formerly Head Dental Officer, Denplan; Formerly Clinical Lecturer, University of Birmingham

Articles by Louis Mackenzie

Abstract

In order to deliver fixed or removable prostheses to match the surrounding natural dentition as accurately as possible, both the clinician and dental technician must be aware of the factors that may affect the optical properties of the substrates, and hence the selection of the most appropriate shade. The present article is concerned with reviewing how the shades of the artificial teeth or fixed prostheses may be chosen most predictably, offering tips as to how this may be achieved and emphasizing good communication between clinician and dental technician.

CPD/Clinical Relevance: The art of shade matching is a fundamental clinical skill in restorative dentistry to ensure that the best possible aesthetic outcome is achieved when working with indirect restorative materials such as ceramics and acrylics.

Article

The present article will provide an overview containing practical recommendations on how to predictably and accurately shade match to the natural dental hard tissues when working with indirect restorative materials such as ceramics and acrylics.

The present article is the third of a series of three. The first was concerned with the physics behind the art of shade determination and illustrated how this underpins clinical practice.1 The second article described in detail how to get the best results when shade matching using a resin-based composite.2 The reader is recommended to review these publications that provide context and fundamental information, which underpins much of the subject matter covered in this article. The present article examines in depth how indirect restorative materials, such as ceramics and acrylics, may be accurately and predictably matched to complement the dental hard tissues of the adjacent teeth. In addition, an imperceptible transition between the natural tooth tissue of the tooth being restored and perhaps the gingival tissues with the fixed or removeable prosthesis is also required.

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