Clinical Evaluation of 3-D Bleaching Shade Guide

Objective: to perform a clinical evaluation to compare a new 3D Bleaching Shade Guide (BSG, Vita), intended for visual evaluation of tooth whitening results, with two other shade guides. Methods: 10-day treatment of 9%H2O2 was done on teeth 6-11 for 60min once a day (n=25). Subjects were evaluated at day-0 and day-10. Shade assessment of labial surfaces was done using different shade guide systems: BSG, value-ordered Vitapan Classical (VC, Vita), color-ordered Trubyte Bioform (TB, Dentsply) and Vita Easyshade (Vita). L*, a* and b* values were measured. Tooth Sensitivity, oral examination and gingival index were performed at both visits. Two digital photographs per subject were taken using a high-resolution digital camera. Photographic analysis software (Adobe CS3) was used to generate the CIE color L*a*b* scores. Results: BSG demonstrated mean shade changes of 2.93 as well as the VC and TB (table 1). L*a*b* values are shown on table 2. Conclusion: BSG showed least amount of shade variability in SGU Mean (2.93 SGU), Range (8 SGU) and qualitatively reduced operator indecision when selecting corresponding shade pre/post whitening. Reduced SGU number between pre/post treatments is often wrongly interpreted as exhibiting reduced effect. Decreasing the sample size of shades (n.) to within a given color space, moving in linear direction, replicating the actual color change a tooth undergoes during the bleaching process is more diagnostic. Increasing sample size (n.) of SGU is undiagnostic and creates false perception of effect. An ideal guide shows large color sphere changes consistent with increasing value and reducing chroma and hue. Sponsored by Vita Zahnfabrik