Validation of two clinical color measuring instruments for use in dental research

Mohammed A Akl; Christina Poh Choo Sim; Martha E Nunn; Lucy Lu Zeng; Tamer A Hamza; Alvin G Wee

doi:10.1016/j.jdent.2022.104223

Validation of two clinical color measuring instruments for use in dental research

J Dent. 2022 Oct:125:104223. doi: 10.1016/j.jdent.2022.104223. Epub 2022 Jul 15.

Authors

Mohammed A Akl¹, Christina Poh Choo Sim², Martha E Nunn³, Lucy Lu Zeng⁴, Tamer A Hamza⁵, Alvin G Wee⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Restorative Sciences, Division of Prosthodontics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States.
² Prosthodontic Unit, Department of Restorative Dentistry, National Dental Center Singapore, Singapore; Oral Health Academic Clinical Programme, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.
³ Health Policy and Health Services Research, Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States.
⁴ General Dentistry Unit, National Dental Center Singapore, Singapore.
⁵ Faculty of Dental Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt; Creighton University School of Dentistry, Omaha, NE, United States.
⁶ Department of Restorative Sciences, Division of Prosthodontics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States. Electronic address: wee00008@umn.edu.

PMID: 35839964
DOI: 10.1016/j.jdent.2022.104223

Abstract

Objective: There are several shade matching instruments developed for clinical use, but the validity of their use in dental research has not been thoroughly investigated. The objective of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of using two clinical color measuring instruments, VitaEasyshade and Spectroshade, against a referent laboratory color measuring instrument (Spectroradiometer PR670).

Methods and materials: The validity and repeatability of the referent laboratory color measuring instrument was assessed using standard color patches with certified CIE L*a*b* values. 10% of the 240 color patches were randomly selected and measured ten times in a random order to test for repeatability. 16 metal ceramic specimens, fabricated from base metal alloy veneered with porcelain of different Vita Classic shades, were measured for L*a*b* values using the PR670, Vita EasyShade and the Spectroshade. The CIE L*a*b* values obtained from the three color measuring instruments were compared using repeated measures ANOVA and post hoc using the Bonferroni test. The color difference, CIEDE2000 (∆E₀₀), between the gold standard (PR670) and the two color measuring instruments were also determined and compared against the known perceptible color difference.

Results: L*a*b* values varied significantly between the three instruments. When comparing the mean ΔE₀₀, the differences in values between PR670 and Spectroshade were not clinically significantly. However, the mean ΔE₀₀ values between PR670 and Vita Easyshade were both clinically and statistically significant.

Conclusion: The lack of clinical significance in values obtained from the SpectroShade when compared to those obtained by the PR670 suggests that the SpectroShade may be recommended for use in dental color research.

Clinical significance: The SpectroShade instrument and PR670 spectroradiometer provided values that lacked clinical significance, suggesting that its use may be highly beneficial for clinical shade matching as well as color research.

Keywords: Color science; Dental color research; Shade matching; Shade selection.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Alloys
Color
Colorimetry / methods
Dental Porcelain*
Dental Research
Prosthesis Coloring*
Spectrophotometry

Substances

Alloys
Dental Porcelain