Tooth Colour Analysis: Finding the Perfect Match with Spectrophotometers

Spectrophotometers make tooth colour analysis easy and provide accurate results every time. Image Source: Flickr user Bart Everson

A hot topic among consumers for some time has concerned tooth colour. Whitening toothpastes and at-home tooth whitening kits line drugstore shelves. Dental laboratories and offices are busy building tooth restorations and implant surgery is leading the way towards creating a perfect smile for anyone. With the amount of time and money people are willing to put toward obtaining a perfect smile, they are also expecting superior results. In order to create a natural look, colour matching enamel with a patient’s natural tooth colour becomes both an art and a science. Spectrophotometers are a necessity for tooth colour analysis and creating that perfect match from laboratory to patient.

The challenges of enamel colour-matching

Colour matching of natural tooth enamel presents one of the greatest challenges in clinical dentistry. Exact colour matching and reproduction is critical in ceramic tooth restorations and requires quantifiable data. The human eye alone cannot consistently identify tooth colour matches and various light sources can alter the perception of tooth colour. In order to obtain objective colour measurement of natural tooth enamel, spectrophotometric technology must be implemented both in the dental office and throughout laboratory processing.

Creating an accurate analysis of tooth colour requires multiple readings and data to create an average sample measurement. Averaging colour helps to ensure that a perfect enamel match is obtained. With variations in sample thickness, using the right spectrophotometric technology and creating an average sample reading makes accurate tooth colour analysis easy. Spherical spectrophotometric technology ensures that variations in thickness and texture aren’t roadblocks for obtaining accurate colour measurement. It’s ideal for providing consistency of samples and a superior method of tooth colour analysis.

Exact tooth colour-matching starts in the dental chair and continues throughout the laboratory restoration process. Advanced colour measurement instrumentation is essential for creating consistent and quality results. Image Source: Flickr user Partha S. Sahana

Ensuring colour consistency throughout laboratory processing

Tooth colour analysis plays an important role in creating a specific formulation of enamel colour matching. Once the spectral data is obtained, repeatability is dependent upon consistent and accurate colour monitoring. When creating dental restorations and crowns, there are various processes that occur in the beginning phases of development to the final product. Tooth colour materials are highly sensitive to the baking and curing processes and slight colour changes are likely to occur throughout these various stages. Portable on-line or benchtop spectrophotometers can provide ongoing data throughout these stages and ensure that variations in colour are detected and can be altered accordingly. This constant monitoring saves time and wasted product by allowing changes to be noted and addressed through real-time analysis.

Sphere technology accounts for variations in texture, consistency, and thickness of dental restoration materials and ensure accurate colour matching. Image Source: Flickr user Partha S. Sahana

Consistency in instrumentation leads to quality results

From the dental chair to the laboratory and back to the patient again, consistency in tooth colour measurement allows for product quality and happy clients. Using the same instrumentation throughout these processes of tooth restoration ensures that data and colour matching remain consistent and reduces the chance of variations between these phases. HunterLab spectrophotometers utilize the latest colour measurement technology and provide satisfying results in tooth colour analysis. Our instrumentation is easily calibrated to maintain agreement between the various stages of tooth restoration, and the unique design of our colour measurement tools allow for adaptability between various industry challenges and needs. To find out more about the HunterLab commitment to colour measurement and our unique customer support promise, contact us today.