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Six Suggestions for Shade Matching
Females are rarely color-blind, however, 50% of males are color-blind in some area or color range. For this reason it would be advisable to have a female present during shade taking, and or take a color-blindness test if you are male.
1. TAKE THE SHADE 1ST THING, BEFORE INJECTION OR PREPPING.
All teeth DRAMATICALLY change color during prepping, INCLUDING surrounding and adjacent teeth, so take your shades prior to any work on the patient. If the shade is not taken at the beginning of the procedure, have the patient return after 24 hours for shading. This will allow the teeth time to regain moisture and true color. Be sure the patient has COMPLETED BLEACHING and that it has been at least 7 days since they last bleached.
2. TURN THE OPERATORY LIGHT OFF
Not just pointed away.
3. SET THE CHAIR AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE
This uses 50% of your color corrected florescent light, and 50% of the available daylight.
4. NO SHADOWS
Have an assistant hold back the lips with their hands very close to the face, so as not to cast shadows on the teeth being shading.
5. DISTANCE & TIME
The person taking the shades should hold the shade tab at arms length. It is easier to see color and value of teeth at a distance. Only look at the shade tab and tooth for a few seconds, your first impression of the shade will be the most accurate. You can rest your eyes between each shade tab by looking at a gray or light blue background for about 20 seconds.
6. POSITION OF THE SHADE TAB
Place the incisal of the shade tab against the incisal of the tooth being matched. Positioning the shade tab in this direction will give your eye the correct color proportioning. Using these six simple suggestions will greatly improve the end result, making a much happier patient, and fewer re-shades for the doctor.
"My goal , every day, every case, is to provide excellence in quality and service." Bill Volbeda, CDT
