Modern aspects of determining dental color in aesthetic dentistry

One of the important factors for creating a beautiful smile is the color of the teeth, which for most people has a more important role than anatomical characteristics. The exact reproduction of the color of the tooth affects the appearance and psycho-emotional state of the patient. The purpose of this work is to review domestic and foreign literature on methods for determining the color of teeth. Methods for determining color are divided into visual, spectrophotometric, colorimetric, digital photo analysis and computer method. The most common in the practice of a dentist is visual, which is based on comparing the examined tooth with color templates. Determination of the color of teeth using scales does not give a reliable result, which is due to the small number of shades in the colors, the phenomenon of metamerism, the impossibility of converting the obtained data into digital values, etc. The hardware method for determining the color of teeth compensates for the disadvantages of the visual and has a high adaptability, which requires many interrelated factors. Due to the complexity and high cost, the devices are used mainly for research purposes. Currently, innovative methods for determining the color of teeth, based on digital and computer analysis, are being actively developed. Thus, hardware methods for determining the color of teeth significantly increase the accuracy of choosing the shade of a future aesthetic restoration or orthopedic construction, excluding subjective factors, however, they require mandatory certification. Correct color assessment and identification helps to reduce costly re-treatments and reduce warranty costs. Despite this, visual methods using scales remain in demand among practicing doctors, due to their low cost and ease of use. The accuracy of determining the color of teeth in this case depends on the professionalism of the dentist, as well as on the correctness of the photo protocol.