Assessment of Color Parameters of Composite Resin Shade Guides Using Digital Imaging versus Colorimeter

Purpose: This study evaluated the color parameters of resin composite shade guides determined using a colorimeter and digital imaging method. Materials and Methods: Four composite shade guides, namely: two nanohybrid (Grandio [Voco GmbH, Cuxhaven, Germany]; Premise [KerrHawe SA, Bioggio, Switzerland]) and two hybrid (Charisma [Heraeus Kulzer, GmbH & Co. KG, Hanau, Germany]; Filtek Z250 [3M ESPE, Seefeld, Germany]) were evaluated. Ten shade tabs were selected (A1, A2, A3, A3,5, A4, B1, B2, B3, C2, C3) from each shade guide. CIE Lab values were obtained using digital imaging and a colorimeter (ShadeEye NCC Dental Chroma Meter, Shofu Inc., Kyoto, Japan). The data were analyzed using two-way analysis of variance and Bonferroni post hoc test. Results: Overall, the mean Delta E values from different composite pairs demonstrated statistically significant differences when evaluated with the colorimeter (p < 0.001) but there was no significant difference with the digital imaging method (p = 0.099). With both measurement methods in total, 80% of the shade guide pairs from different composites (97/120) showed color differences greater than 3.7 (moderately perceptible mismatch), and 49% (59/120) had obvious mismatch (Delta E > 6.8). For all shade pairs evaluated, the most significant shade mismatches were obtained between Grandio-Filtek Z250 (p = 0.021) and Filtek Z250-Premise (p = 0.01) regarding Delta E mean values, whereas the best shade match was between Grandio-Charisma (p = 0.255) regardless of the measurement method. Conclusion: The best color match (mean Delta E values) was recorded for A1, A2, and A3 shade pairs in both methods. When proper object-camera distance, digital camera settings, and suitable illumination conditions are provided, digital imaging method could be used in the assessment of color parameters. Interchanging use of shade guides from different composite systems should be avoided during color selection. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE The shade guides of nanohybrid and hybrid composites do not give consistent color match with exception of A1, A2, and A3 shade pairs. (J Esthet Restor Dent 22:379-390, 2010).