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The art of clinical shade matching of resin-based composite materials Dipesh Parmar Louis Mackenzie Stephen J Bonsor Aesthetic Update 2025 1:3, 113-120.
The present article is the second in a series of three on shade matching in restorative dentistry. The first article provided an overview and general advice on shade taking. This article goes on to discuss what factors should be considered when choosing the most appropriate shade guide in relation to resin-based composite materials. It offers practical advice on how shade guides may be used to best effect in determining an optimal match with respect to optics between the dental hard tissues and resin-based composite products to achieve highly natural imperceptible results when working in the aesthetic zone.
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 resin-based composite materials.
Article
Modern dental materials must have advanced colour-matching properties to satisfy patient and professional demand for high-quality natural and lifelike restorations. Resin-based composite is used extensively as a direct aesthetic restorative material, both in the aesthetic zone and the posterior regions of the mouth. There are many types of this material available commercially, which is outwith the scope of the present article; however, in order to understand their clinical handling, interested readers may wish to refer to the article by Bonsor that covers the material science of resin-based composites, their advantages and shortcomings.1 A thorough understanding of the material science is crucial to effectively practise restorative dentistry, and thus achieve the best outcomes.2
When working in the aesthetic zone, a layering resin-based composite product would be the product choice of most clinicians. Essentially, these systems are composed of resin-based composites with differing optical properties, resembling natural dental enamel and dentine, so allowing the defect in the tooth to be reconstructed in layers for an optimal aesthetic result. Apart from the excellent aesthetics that may be obtained by the skilled use of these products, another advantage is that the material may be bonded to the dental hard tissues. This means that a conservative technique may be employed because sound tooth tissue does not need to be removed as traditional resistance and retention form in the cavity is not a consideration.
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