Determining color for the direct restorative approach.

Abstract

When implementing a direct composite resin (CR) restoration, the determination of color can be a challenging step. The reproduction of tooth shade is often a source of frustration for the practitioner. Dental color can be complex, and its accurate reproduction requires not only a good understanding of color by the practitioner but also the use of appropriate methods to achieve it. It is important to remember what tooth color parameters one is able to mimic with CRs. The purpose of this article is to demystify the errors attributable to standard tools, ie, shade guides, and above all to suggest a number of measures to avoid such errors.