Shade & Photo Tips
Shade Matching and Photos are key to doctor-laboratory communication. It can improve aesthetics and the overall quality of your case.
Photos are useful as a reference to relative colour between the shade guide and the tooth. Photos also are extremely helpful to record tooth characterization and other shade information for your laboratory.
The photos below are the usual needs for the laboratory and can optimize the results with most anterior cases, complex or full mouth cases. Photographs of individual teeth or quadrants can be very helpful for even small cases.
However, there are things to take into consideration when performing a shade match;
It is important to take a shade on non-dehydrated teeth before preparation is preformed. It can take up to 2-7 days for a tooth re-hydrate completely and restore its natural colour.
It is best to hold the incisal edge of the shade tab to the incisal edge of the tooth you are wanting to replicate.
The number on the shade tab is clearly visible in the photo and is also written on the Rx.
The shade tab must be held in the same plane as the tooth to keep the flash at the same distance from the tooth.
Ask your patient to remove any lipstick and It might be necessary to cover bright (orange, red, yellow) clothing with a neutral cloth (light grey or blue) to keep unwanted colours from reflecting into the subject area.
When prescribing all-ceramic restorations, photos of the stump shade must be taken after the preparation is done. Use stump shade guides or regualar shade guides to get an approximate match.
If there is an amalgam staining as a substructure, it will darken the final restoration. Take photos of the preparations and notify your laboratory on the Rx. The laboratory will apply the appropriate opaque layer to block out and substructure effect from the amalgam stain.
Watch for consistencies in the camera position relative to the patient. Keep and standard for camera distance, magnification and light exposure. It is preferable to have the patient sit-up right for full smile and face photographs.
Photos should be taken pre-op (2-3 weeks post bleaching if bleaching was done) and post-op to share results with the patient and your laboratory.
The “M” photo is taken right after the patient says the letter “M”. Ask your patient to say the letter “M” and then relax their lips and mouth after doing so. The patients lips should slightly open. This position shows a relaxed, post-functional lip position in the photograph.
The photo “EEE” sound is taken while the patient is saying a very firm “EEE” letter. This also shows lip to tooth display in function.
Do not worry about perfect photos, incorporate dental photography into your daily practice and strive to do the best you can. Dental photography is not only used for Shade Matching Communication but also revision! When treatment is finished, take a few minutes to review the results and see your mistakes. Photographs reveal the truth, so be honest with yourself and ask yourself how you would improve the case for the next patient.