Evaluating porcelain color match of different porcelain shade-matching systems

Purpose: This in vitro study was designed to evaluate the new ShadeEye-EX Chroma Meter and a new visual porcelain shade-matching system (Vitapan 3-D Master, Omega 900) in comparison to the traditionally used visual porcelain shade-matching system (Vita Lumin Vacuum, VMK 68). Materials and Methods: Shade matches and porcelain fabrications on individualized shade tabs were carried out. The fabricated porcelain tabs were evaluated against the respective natural tooth using the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) criteria to determine clinically acceptable match. The tabs also were ranked according to the final-color match to the corresponding natural tooth. Results: The percentage of clinically acceptable color matches were as follows: Vita Lumin Vacuum (46.67%), ShadeEye-EX (40%), and Vitapan 3-D Master (56.67%). The generalized estimating equation (α= 0.5) showed no statistically significant difference between systems in obtaining a clinically acceptable match (p=.5729). The chi-squared test (α= 0.5) showed no statistically significant difference between systems in terms of rank order (p=.5017). The two new systems do not produce color match that is better than the conventional visual porcelain shade-matching system. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE. Both the shade-matching environment and communication between dentist and technician should be optimized with use of visual and instrumental shade-matching systems.