Objectives: The goal of the study was to determine the current status of the teaching of color in dental education at undergraduate level in United States (USA) and Germany (GER).
Methods: A cross-sectional web-based survey, containing 27 multiple choice, multiple best and single best answers, was created. Upon receiving IRB approval, dental faculty involved in the teaching of color to undergraduate dental students in USA and GER (N=121), were administered. Statistical analysis of differences between Pre-D and Post-D was performed using Fisher's Exact Test (a=0.05).
Results: A total of 49 responses were received (response rate 40.5%); There were 34 responses from USA and 15 from GER. A course on “color” or “color in dentistry” was included in the dental curriculum of 73.5 of US programs and 80% of GER programs. The number of hours dedicated to color-related topics was 4.0±2.4 and 3.7±249 for USA and GER, respectively.
The following topics were frequently taught in both countries: color dimensions, tooth color range, ceiling shade matching lights, color temperature, shade matching method (position, distance, time and length of color selection, tooth condition - dry/moist), dimension by dimension shade matching technique, shade guides, color communication using written instructions and digital imaging, color of ceramics and resin composites, and tooth whitening (techniques, longevity and mechanism of action).
Significant differences were recorded in teaching on Munsell color notation system (p=0.002), metamerism (p=0.00003), time/length of color selection (p=0.018), value scale of Vitapan Classical (p=0.0003) and custom color characterization (p=0.008).
Conclusions: Teaching of color in undergraduate dental education United States and Germany is to a large extent in accordance with advancements in dental materials and technology. Many similarities in teaching of color were recorded between the two countries. Both these similarities and significant differences between certain topics can be used by dental educators as guidelines for improvements.