IADR Abstract Archives

The Reproducibility of An Intraoral Spectrophotometer – a Clinical Study

Objectives: Subjective color perception depends on individual factors and environmental parameters. Measurable color differences (ΔE) can be calculated from the color space coordinates L*a*b* and these are a measure of observable color differences (ΔE> 3). The intraoral spectrophotometer Vita Easyshade (Vita Zahn Fabrik, Bad Säckingen Germany) is a color-measuring device for the objective color determination of natural teeth and dental materials. In in-vitro investigations the Vita Easyshade showed good results for accuracy and precision of the L*a*b* data of standardized ceramic as well as plastic specimens. Objective of the present clinical study was to evaluate the reproducibility of the L*a*b* parameters of metal-ceramic fixed dental prostheses over a period of 18 months. Methods: Objective color measurements of 30 metal-ceramic crowns (19 patients) were taken with the Vita Easyshade. Simultaneously the color was determined subjectively by a dentist. The measurements were performed by using customized positioning templates at the day of cementation, after 14 days, after 6 months and 18 months. Results: The analysis accomplished using SPSS 17.0 for descriptive statistics. Color differences ΔE were calculated with the ΔL*, Δa *, Δb * data. The medians were ΔE1 = 1.9 (14 days), ΔE2 = 1.9 (6 months) and ΔE3 = 2.0 (18 months) in the follow ups. The standard deviation was 1.4 for ΔE3. 95% of the calculated ΔE3 values ranged from 1.7 to 2.8. During the follow ups the subjective color analysis showed no changes of the ceramic veneers. Conclusions: Color differences measured with Vita Easyshade were small and below visual perception. If it is assumed that ceramic veneers do not change color within 18 months Vita Easyshade provides reproducible data over this period. Additional factors have to responsible for the small identified color differences.
IADR/PER General Session
2010 IADR/PER General Session (Barcelona, Spain)
Barcelona, Spain
2010
304
Dental Materials 11: Color and Appearance (Esthetics)
  • Olms, Constanze  ( Ulm University, Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, Ulm, N/A, Germany )
  • Setz, Juergen M.  ( Martin-Luther-University, Department of Prosthodontics, Halle (Saale), N/A, Germany )
  • Oral Session
    Keynote Address and Color Measurement Instruments
    07/14/2010