Methods: An online color training system was developed using Java language on Eclipse Platform. Color chips, images of shade guides and natural teeth were incorporated into the system as training materials. The system consisted of two parts, the training interface and background for user management and data collection. The system ran in a server and users connected to the training system via internet. They logged in the system with individual's username and password. Thirty-seven color normal dental students from Peking University School of Stomatology participated in the evaluation program. They firstly go though a Vita-Vita test and then tested with the training system. In the next four days, they were trained with the system. The system automatically recorded the results and the time spent. The same test was performed after the training program. The “before” and “after” training results were compared using Paired-Sample t test with SPSS (16.0 for windows). The level of significance was established as á=0.05.
Results: The average correct match was 6.7 (41.88%) before training and 11.38 (71.13%) after training in Vita-Vita test. The average correct match were 9.67 (60.42%) and 13.06 (81.63%) in system test, significant difference was found in both tests (P<0.001 and P<0.001). The average time spent was 11.27 minutes and 11.89 minutes in Vita-Vita test and no significant difference was found (P=0.636). In the system test, the average time spent was 12.03 minutes and 8.84 minutes, there was significant difference between them (P=0.002).
Conclusions: The color training system can improve the color matching ability of the dental students. It is suitable for color training in dental school.