Color match of two different ceramic systems to selected shades of one shade guide

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: There are no consistent indications given by dental manufacturers on how to layer ceramics to achieve a color match to a shade selected from a dental shade guide. The technique for ceramic layering relies primarily on the skill and experience of ceramists and is not easily predictable. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate, using a clinical spectrophotometer, the ability to color match shades selected with the 3D-Master shade guide using 2 different ceramic systems. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two ceramic systems were selected for this study, the VITA Omega 900 and VITA VM 13. For both systems, shades 2M3, 3M2, 4M2 of the VITA 3D-Master shade guide were selected. Thirty ceramic discs, 15 mm in diameter, were fabricated with different layer thickness ratios of opaque dentin, dentin, and enamel, maintaining a constant overall thickness. A clinical spectrophotometer (VITA Easyshade) was used for color comparison. The measured ΔE values were statistically analyzed with a 3-way ANOVA and the Tukey HSD test (α=.05). RESULTS: The 3-way ANOVA showed that the ceramic system (P<.001), the selected shade (P<.001), and the layering scheme all significantly influenced the ΔE values (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Both VITA VM 13 and VITA Omega 900 ceramic systems showed a color match with the shades 2M3, 3M2, and 4M2 of the VITA 3D-Master shade guide to be within the limits for clinical acceptability (ΔE≤ 3.3). VM 13 showed a statistically better color match. The layering scheme influenced the definitive color of the restoration. Copyright © 2011 The Editorial Council of the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.